Going green

ISLAMABAD, March 29: The sale and prices of green T-shirts replicating the official outfit of Pakistan cricket team have witnessed sharp increase in the twin cities over the last few days. With Pakistan playing India today in the semifinal, the green shirts were sold as high as Rs1,700 on Tuesday. Normally they are available between Rs250 and Rs500. Young boys and girls swarmed the shops and got the T-shirts on higher prices as they want to see the all important match in green shirts. "We bought three T-shirts for Rs3,000. The shopkeeper also gave us a discount of Rs300," Imran, a student, told Dawn . Wearing the green shirts, he and his friends plan to watch the semifinal outdoors on big screens in the capital. Girls were also busy selecting T-shirts in two main markets â€" Super and Jinnah â€" of the capital. "We are part of team Pakistan too," said a shopper in Super market. She bought half a dozen shirts. "I and my friends will be supporting the team in our national colour." T-shirts` prices varied in the various markets of the twin cites. In Super and Jinnah Super markets, the prices were higher than in Aabpara. In Rawalpindi`s Commercial Market prices were reasonable and in Saddar much cheaper versions were available. The green T-shirts with `Boom Boom` inscribed on one arm were the most sought after as the fans paid between Rs1,000 to Rs1,700 to buy them in various markets. Other versions of green T-shirts were available for Rs900, Rs750, and Rs1000. "I expect higher sale on Wednesday morning. Sale will continue till the match starts," hoped Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper in Commercial Market. He compared the buying of T-shirts to shopping on chand raat. The hype for the semifinal has also engulfed the highest court also. Judges and the staff of the Supreme Court along with lawyers will see the match in the building`s big auditorium. Invitations for the match have been sent to judges, lawyers and the SC staff. Pakistan Sports Board has installed two big screens in Jinnah Stadium at Islamabad Sports Complex to show the match to the general public free of cost. As Pakistan`s win will witness displays of jubilations by firing in the air, sale of bullets witnessed a jump on Monday and Tuesday. Mohammad Shah, an arms dealer at College Road in Rawalpindi, said in two days a large number of customers bought bullets. "It was more than the total sale in March." Permission in Rawalpindi: The people planning to install big screens in the open for watching the semifinal have to seek permission from the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR). In some parts of Rawalpindi plans are afoot to install big screens but the CDGR has linked it to security clearance. Zahid Saeed, the commissioner Rawalpindi, said those who wanted to install big screens should seek permission from the local administration. He said though there has been no specific terror threat, the administration has to be on its toes on security issues. Regional Police Officer Hamid Mukhtar Gondal said tight security arrangements have been made for Wednesday in the city. Six teams comprising Elite Force commandoes along with traffic wardens, each headed by a DSP, will patrol the city.