SWABI: Confectioners are working round the clock to meet the increasing demand of customers on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. They told Dawn that perhaps they were the only people who remained busy on Eid day as people tend to buy sweets after offering Eid prayers.

They said last 10 days of Ramazan and three days of Eidul Fitr were the peak time of their business and they remained hectically busy meeting the increasing demands. `This is the period of the year that we remain under tremendous pressure while improving the quality of stuff and meeting the increasing demand,` said Rahat Ali, who works in a bakery.

His colleague, Anwar Khan said they couldn`t celebrate Eid because their peak business was during the Eid days. The sweet makers said new clothes, footwear and other items were purchased before Eid, but sweets were usually purchased on the Eid day.

The confectioners said to cope with the situation they had to hire more workers during the festival.

A baker said people crowded bakeries and sweet shops, and sometimes scuffles erupted among buyers over failure to get a quick chance. He said various varieties of cakes, pastries, biscuits, rasgulla, burfi and famous pairha were in great demand during Eid.

FLOOD DAMAGES: Deputy commissioner Mattiullah Khan has sent a report to the provincial government regarding the damages caused by the recent torrentialrain and nood in the district so that affected people could be compensated.

The flood had killed a number of cattle and damaged tobacco and maize crops. The most affected areas were Adina and Ismalia where the floodwater destroyed standing crops. Mattiullah Khan had directed the revenue department officials to conduct survey of the damages caused by floods and submit a report to him.

Sources said the report was submitted to him the other day and it was dispatched to the officials concerned at the provincial level to provide financial assistance to the af fected people. Correspondent