SAMBRIAL - Because of common use of short message service (SMS), multi-media message service (MMS) and Internet service, have replaced Eid cards, the traditional mode of greeting Eidul Fitr.
May it be birthday, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion, greeting cards have almost lost their importance as the modern modes are are cheaper and time-saving. Therefore, the public is not interested in visiting markets to purchase Eid cards.  Most of shopkeepers of Sambrial, Pasrur and Sialkot opined that there was a significant reduction in sale of Eid cards. They explained that the sale had decreased to 80 percent as compared to the previous year’s. however, SMSs can never carry the sentiments and feelings as greeting cards do. Talking to this scribe, the shopkeepers of Main bazaar Sambrialsaid that Eid card industry was confronting a huge downfall. They said the SMS packages and price-hike of basic commodities were the main cause of decreased sale of cards.
“It takes almost 150 rupees to send a simple greeting card to your beloved ones. Trend of sending Eid cards has almost come to an end now,” said a shopkeeper at Main Bazaar, Sialkot. Another shopkeeper of Modal Town Market Sambrial said that he opened his stall daily from 10 am to 12 am but his sales from cards were less than a Rs1,000. He added that Valentine’s Day cards are the most popular. “Three-day sale of Valentine’s Day cards bring us more profit than we earn in 30-days sale of Eid cards,” he added.