islamabad
People started returning back to twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad after enjoying Eid-ul-Azha with their relatives at their hometowns to resume back their duties on Thursday (today).
All the government and semi-government organisations will open after three days official Eid-ul-Azha break today and two days of weekend before Eid making it a five days vacation. This year skyrocketing prices of sacrificial animals at the federal capital due to less supply of cattle because of recent floods, forced a large number of people to celebrate Eid without offering sacrifice- the Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi.
However, most of the private organisations also announced Thursday and Friday additional holidays so that people can club the weekend with Eid holidays and enjoy 9 days holiday break.
Zubair Bakht, a resident of Lahore who worked at Pak Secretariat said he after attending office on Friday last left for his hometown but Thursday is a working day so he has no other option but to come back.
Most of the people have opted two days casual leave for Thursday and Friday to enjoy four more days with their expanded families at their hometowns.
He said on last Eid he took extra leaves to spend more time with parents so this time there was no chance of having more holidays. “I spend five marvellous days with my siblings and parents and today I left early in the morning so that I can manage some time to see my friends, colleagues and relatives here in capital,” he said.
The bus stands of twin cities have been seemed over-crowded since Wednesday morning and people with huge bags were looking for cabs and public transport to reach their homes.
However, cab drivers and local transporters took full advantage of Eid and charged fares at their own will from tiring passengers who reached back after travelling for hours and want to reach home at the earliest.
Meanwhile, public transporters took full advantage of festival of Eid by charging extra fares from the passengers who are coming back from their native places to attend their respective offices on Thursday. Every year transporters charge extra fares on Eid leaving people with no other choice as the concerned authorities have turned a blind eye towards the issue adding miseries to the general public.
Transporters charge 50 to 60 percent higher fares considering it their right giving the excuse that they have sacrificed their holidays or time with their families on Eid to facilitate people who want to visit their relatives and friends. Besides long route vans and buses, local transporters also charge extra from the residents who want to visit their relatives in different parts of city or plan to go to public parks or other recreational places to celebrate Eid.
On the other hand people complained of the higher rates saying that they are already over burdened with extra expenditure on Eid and these transporters’ excessive demand is additional burden on their pockets.