With Eid a few days away, here are three must-visit spots in Karachi to enjoy chand raat festivities: Khadda Market, Bahadurabad and Meena Bazaar. *Food And Beauty At Khadda Market.
The Eid take… Located off Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, Khadda Market, boasts of countless salons ideal for those facials and mani-pedis that have become a must do before Eid. The Market also offers wide raging culinary delights – think spicy chana papri, steaming biryani, grilled chicken, mouth-watering pancakes and sizzling steaks. TV addicts can also stock up on the latest DVDs for the holidays.
The real estate take… Commercial property options include standalone shops and retail space in low-rise buildings. Demand for commercial property is high; prices have increased by nearly 50% in the last five years, as have rental, raging between Rs 6,000-8,000; their demand increases during Ramazan.
Shopping At Bahadurabad
The Eid take… Located on Bahadu Shah Zafar Road, this is Bahadurabad’s bustling shopping strip. Several high-end clothing, shoes and accessories brands have a presence here, offering ready to wear ensembles and intricately embroidered fabric. Temporary stalls are setup during Ramazan selling artificial jewellery and handbags at bargain prices. Foodie options include bhel puri, chaat, dahi phulkis, haleem and seekh kababs.
The real estate take… Commercial property options include retail space in high-rise buildings. Demand is high with property value and rentals registering an increase of approximately 46% in the last five years. During Ramazan, rentals appreciate by almost 60%.
*Mehndi At Meena Bazaar
The Eat take… Located in Karimabad, Meena Bazaar is renowed for its Arabic, Gujarati, Indian and Sudani henna designs and attracts scores of women from across Karachi. Exquisite, handcrafted Hyderabad fabric, kundan bangles, parandas and gota kinar are the Bazzar’s specialty.
The real estate take… Commercial property options include retail space in low-rise buildings. Prices have appreciated by nearly 34% and rentals by 25% in the last five years. Rentals increase by furthure 20% during Eid and the wedding season.
In a nutshell… With bustling bazaars and lighted streets, not to mention the foodie delights on offer, Karachi lives up to its reputation of being the ‘City of Lights’ during the run-up to Eid.
By Ayesha Sheikh & Nigar Jeffrey