Markets reopen as Easter shopping begins

With Eidul Fitr shopping concluded, the Christian community in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has begun preparations for Easter, leading to renewed activity in commercial centres, plazas and shopping malls, which are now staying open late into the night. Shopkeepers have introduced new varieties for Easter shoppers and launched sales on garments, shoes and artificial jewellery left over from Eid. The Christian community will celebrate Easter on April 5 with religious fervour, while the government has announced that salaries and pensions for Christian employees will be paid on March 31. Fasting for the community will end on April 4, which will also serve as the "Chand Raat" for Easter shopping, while Good Friday will be observed on April 3. Authorities in both cities have further tightened security at churches, especially during worship times. The district administration has directed church managements to install CCTV cameras and deploy security guards ahead of Easter. Renovation and decoration of churches are also underway. Community leaders, including Pastor Qaiser, Pastor Asif, Father Ilyas and Rashid Chauhan, have demanded reduction in sentences for Christian prisoners, similar to relief granted to Muslim inmates on Eid, so they may celebrate with their families. They also called for setting up subsidised markets and providing financial assistance to poor Christian families. Traders' representative Naveed Kanwal said that with markets reopening after Eid, Easter shopping has picked up and will continue until April 4, bringing back crowds to commercial centres.