Christmas shopping in full swing in twin cities

ISLAMABAD: Christmas shopping is in full swing in twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with most of the city's shopping centers crowded with Christians from evening till late night.

During a survey, it was noted that the shopping for Christmas was in full swing as the followers of Christ, wanted the day to be celebrated as a special day.

Readymade garments shops and roadside stalls had seen their sales surge over the last week. Bilal, a shopkeeper at Super Market said that he had reduced profits on most garments at his shop and had even sold some at a loss because he had not wanted to turn down any customer.

"I don't celebrate Christmas but I express my respect for the Christ by cutting down on my profit. It's the most important day of the year for Christians," he said.

Abdul Rehman another shopkeeper at Abpara, who runs a garment shop, said, "Our business has picked up in the past couple of weeks. As it is, we earn more during December which is the festive season".

Shoppers still complained that the prices of most garments were beyond their reach. They said the goods displayed on sale were of inferior quality. Shahzad Masih said he had compromise quality of clothes to ensure that he could buy a new dress each for his wife and three children.

The Christian community of the metropolitan also looks busy in decorating trees and in exchanging gifts. At the same time, shopkeepers have also established stalls of Christmas cards and other related items in front of their shops to attract maximum customers.

Christmas day is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ celebrated on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world.

In Pakistan, including the federal capital, Muslims also express solidarity with the Christians on the occasion.