Late return of govt employees leaves people in the lurch

Pindiites are waiting for the return of government officers and staff after the three-day holidays for Eidul Azha, but the holiday mood with government office workers appears to prevail at least for a few more days.
People, who left the city last week for celebrating the Eid at their homes with their relatives and friends, are returning to the city leisurely, braving the September heat that is intense at times.
"Most of the shopping malls and area markets remain closed. Most opened on the day after Eid continue to wear a deserted look. It seems that most of the businesses might resume their operations at the start of the new week," says Sabir Ali, a shopkeeper in Shah Khalid Colony.
Alam Hussain, a fruit and vegetable vendor in the Fazal Town market, who was waiting for customers with some different types of fruits and vegetables says, “I opened my trade in the morning, but saw only a few customers till mid-day. I expect that normal businesses will resume in earnest only by Sunday.”
Rafiq Ali, having a chicken shop in the market says: “The supply in the city's whole market was scanty because of the Eid holiday. Most of the essential commodities, however, were traded at their previous rates owing to lower demand. Although we opened our shop, it is unlikely that we are going to have enough supply and customers before the start of the next week.”
Serving a few numbers of customers Akhter Hasan, the owner of super-shop, says: “I had good business before Eid, and opened the shop after Eid holidays for limited hours.”
All the scheduled banks opened on Monday when staffs spent the post-Eid holiday times in exchanging greetings and attending a few number of clients.
The scenario at the city's big-name restaurants, including the international fast food outlets, recreational parks and museums were different during the Eid holidays. These places and facilities stayed open throughout the holidays when many city dwellers went there despite on and off heat.
A good number of hotels, restaurants and amusement parks also offered special rates and services for a nominal charge. The public transport operators, however, used the holidays to fleece passengers by increasing fares as most of the transporters remained off the road.
Although the government and non-governmental offices have reopened after a three-day Eidul Azha vacation but the attendance of officers and staff is very thin, as the holiday mood still prevails.
“The attendance is around 50 to 60 per cent as many
officials and employees
have taken causal leave thus adding to the Eid vacation which coincided with the weekly holidays,” said Kabir Ahmad Tahir.