Charity spirit lights up Islamabad markets as Eid nears

By Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD, Mar 16 (APP): As the crescent of Eid ul-Fitr draws closer in the final days of Ramazan, the markets of Islamabad are witnessing more than the usual festive rush. Across the capital’s bustling bazaars and neighbourhood streets, preparations for Eid have blended with a visible surge of charity, as residents from different walks of life come together to ensure that the joy of the festival reaches the less fortunate.

From the upscale sectors of F-6 and F-7 to the busy markets of G-9, I-10 and Aabpara, shoppers are filling carts not only with clothes and gifts for their families but also with flour, rice, sugar, dates and other essentials meant for distribution among the needy. The tradition of giving during Ramazan appears particularly vibrant this year as well, with many buyers deliberately purchasing extra goods to prepare ration packages and Eid gifts for low-income households in their surroundings.

A graceful lady, Nazia Sultan, at G-11 Markaz, told APP that she had come to the market specifically to buy Eid clothes and shoes for her household staff and their families. “They are just like our family members while working in our home as helpers, including the cook, drivers and gardeners and it gives me happiness to share the joy of Eid with them,” she said.

At a clothing store in G-9, a housewife, Ayesha, sorted through stacks of ladies’ outfits and embroidered dupattas before placing several aside for donation. She said many families in her social circle had begun combining Eid gatherings with charity drives. “Instead of only exchanging gifts among ourselves, we now prepare ration kits or clothes for families who may otherwise struggle to celebrate Eid,” she said.

In the commercial hub of Aabpara, Fatima Rehman, a teacher at a private school in the capital, was guiding a group of students through a grocery shop, helping them select grocery items and small envelopes of eidi for children. “The students insisted on doing this,” she told APP. “They want to make sure that families in nearby settlements can also celebrate Eid with dignity.”

The schoolchildren excitedly told APP that they are also planning to visit a centre run by Edhi Foundation on Eid day to share gifts and the joy of Eid with homeless children living there.

Students from different universities in the capital are also taking part in charity drives. At Quaid-i-Azam University, volunteers from student societies have been collecting donations and assembling gift packages that include shoes, clothes and food items for orphanages and welfare centres. One student, Ahmed from G-13, said in an interview with APP that the effort had brought a new meaning to the season. “Instead of spending the whole time online, we decided to prepare Eid boxes for children who might otherwise feel forgotten,” he said.

The spirit of giving is not limited to the affluent. In markets near Rawalpindi Road and I-8, daily wage workers and small vendors are also contributing in their own ways. Noor Bibi, who stitches clothes at home, told APP that she and her daughters had been preparing small handmade frocks for little girls to add to charity bundles. “We may not have much,” she said with a smile, “but even a little gift can make a child happy on Eid.”

Shopkeepers say they also feel part of the effort. APP observed that several traders in Aabpara, G-9, the Sunday Bazaar and other markets in the capital are offering discounts to customers buying items for donation. “When someone tells us the goods are for the poor, we reduce the price,” said Ahmed Ali, a grocery store owner in G-9. “Ramazan reminds us that helping others brings its own reward.”

Across the city, volunteers can be seen loading bags filled with Eid clothes, shoes and food items into cars and vans headed for orphanages, welfare homes and informal settlements. Social media posts under hashtags promoting charitable Eid campaigns have also encouraged residents to take part in collective drives.

As evening falls and the Margalla Hills fade into dusk, Islamabad’s markets continue to buzz with activity. Yet behind the glitter of new clothes and festive decorations lies a deeper message: the true beauty of Eid emerges not only from celebration but from the quiet determination of a community to ensure that no household is left without joy when the festival arrives.