LAHORE Despite unprecedented price hike, the rush of customers is on the rise day-by-day in the leading shopping malls of the provincial metropolis, as Eidul Fitr festivity is approaching round the corner. Almost all the leading markets of the City including The Mall, Panorama Centre, Liberty, Anarkali, Fortress Stadium, Defence, Moon Market, Link Model Town Road, Shah Alam Market, Kashmiri Bazaar, Naqi Market, Pace and others are presenting a cheerful look and the shopkeepers seem busy to decorate their shops in order to attract the buyers. Although, financial crunch and wave of terrorism have gripped the country but the Lahorites are busy in shopping with usual zeal and fervor. A shopkeeper of Anarkali Bazaar told this scribe that the prices of Eid related items such as cloth, shoes, bangles, toys, sweets and other commodities had been increased by 30 to 50 per cent as compared to the previous year. Beside leading markets, a large number of makeshift shops have also been set up mostly in front of the markets and on the pavements. The buyers, mostly belonging to lower and middle class, are found moving from shop to shop asking prices of goods. The footpath shops are found more crowded than the big shopping malls. A survey of various markets revealed that the women and young girls, who are always looked more enthusiastic, are much busy in buying bangles, garments, gifts, shoes and other accessories despite the immense inflation. Some females while talking to TheNation said as Eid was approaching, the rush in shopping centres and stores was increasing rapidly so they planned to purchase essential elements before the last days of Eid to avoid any kind of uneasiness. The retail prices of the wears for the children, men and women, both home made and imported increased by 20 to 30 per cent than the last year and according to the shopkeepers the volume of transaction was relatively low this year.