Pakistan’s annual mass exodus starts days ahead of Eid ul Adha. Millions are leaving mega cities on trains, buses and personal vehicles to celebrate the festival with families and friends in their native towns and villages.
Bus stands and railways stations particularly in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad (Twin cities) witness huge rush on occasions of two annual festivities- Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha- fall in Islamic calendar. With over 245 million population, 97 percent Muslims live in Pakistan and everyone prefers Eid celebrations with family. Travellers include people who earn livelihood in major cities by running businesses, doing private and government jobs and students. Youth secure admissions in universities and colleges of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad due to their good standard and also because of unavailability of standard education facilities in their native areas.
Beside its regular services, Pakistan Railways (PR) is operating four special trains from Karachi to cater the rush of travellers on Eid ul Adha. The PR also announced 25 percent cut in fare on regular trains to facilitate the passengers. But, the private transporters enhance the ticket charges, taking benefit of the situation. Standard transport services, however, charge usual fare though the passengers claim it is still unjustified.
Mass exodus start days ahead of Eid and reaches at peak on Friday. People rush to bus stands and railway stations to get advance tickets as long queues could be seen at sites. Students and government employee with families leave the cities almost a week ahead of Eid to avoid the rush. The government has announced three holidays for Eid ul Adha which would fall on Monday (June 17). As Saturday and Sunday are usual holidays, the government and private employees would celebrate five days offs. Majority among them would would leave the provincial and federal capitals on Thursday or Friday by taking advance leave from office, thus enjoying almost entire week at their homes.
