LAHORE: Eateries and salons offered special packages for customers as the city celebrated Mother’s Day here on Sunday.
Young children made cards and baked pastries in a special event at Cinnabon near Hussain Chowk. “I am extremely happy today as I made the cupcake for my mother for the first time. I also bought her a gift from my pocket money,” said Sakina, a student of class five.
Mrs Nargis, a mother of two, said she felt “special” when her kids presented her with flowers in the morning.
Flower shops reported doing brisk business on the day. “Our sales almost doubled because of Mother’s Day. Red roses sold especially well,” said Mukhtar, a flower seller.
Bilal, a university student, bought flowers for his mother too. “I am not a very expressive person, so giving her flowers was just a way to express my love for her,” he said.
Several restaurants, including Kim’s at the Avari Hotel, Opium, Coffee Tea and Company, and Freddy’s Cafe, offered special menus on Mother’s Day. A large number of families visited the restaurants.
“We appreciate the emotional significance of Mother’s Day and our aim was to pay tribute to all the mothers for the hard work they did in bringing up their children,” said Ibrahim, a restaurant manager.
Salons, including Depilex, Toni and Guy, Nina G and The Dresser, also used the day to market special gift hampers and treatments,. “I decided to celebrate this special day by pampering the most important person in my life here at the salon,” said Sehar Raza, a medical student.
“We are very busy,” said Azra Khan, a beautician. “We are working long shifts to manage the workload.”
Courier services also received a large number of orders, as citizens sent out gifts to their mothers living elsewhere. Asad Naqvi, a businessman, said he had sent his mother flowers, a dress and a mug.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2013.