Capital giving a deserted look

ISLAMABAD: Capital has giving a deserted look as majority of the people settled here from across the country have moved back for their hometowns to celebrate eid with their near and dear ones.

Majority of the people have left for their native towns to spend time with their relatives and enjoy eid festivities while the public and private offices witnessed thin attendance on the last working day today.

Eid shoppers were seen in shopping malls and centres giving final touches to their shopping.

"Eid becomes colourless without parents and relatives so I reached at my home town today for celebrating the festival with near and dear ones," Amir Shehzad said.

Almost every department has number of officials who belong to far flung areas, villages and towns and they make efforts to take leave for as long as possible to enjoy eid, he said.

Islamabad has majority of the people who hail from different corners of the country and residing here either for educational purpose or to earn their livelihood and no one likes to miss the chance to accompany his or her relatives in their towns.

While the students were already enjoying vacations and most of them have spent vacations in their hometowns.

"We spend summer vacations every year with our relatives in Sindh and come back after eid holidays," a student Sarmad said.

Buses and coaches crowded with passengers left from terminals of twin cities including Karachi Company, Pirwadhai, Faizabad and Swan even today.

The notorious cities' traffic became less chaotic from the last two days except at few places like terminals and shopping malls, which witnessed a rush of homebound people and shoppers.

While the number of pedestrians, rickshaws, buses and other modes of vehicles was very less than a day before.

The government has announced four days Eid holiday from August 31 to September 3 and majority of government employees as well as those in the private sector, who belong to far-flung areas of the country, have taken leave to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.