The price to pay: Business on rally route grinds to a halt

Shops had papers posted on shutters signalling their closure

LAHORE: There was little trade or activity in commercials areas along the rally route of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif as shops and businesses were closed down by police, while vehicular traffic was also restricted.

Shops from the Imamia Colony up to Data Darbar, where the rally is supposed to end, were sealed by the police. A cutting of paper was pasted on shops, declaring they had been sealed after security clearance operations.

As a result, no business activity was witnessed on the route and not many people were on the roads. Similarly, cars, trucks and motorbikes were also not allowed near the route, creating problems for commuters who had to use diversions.

GT Road is home to small and medium-sized businesses with a few markets falling along the route of Nawaz’s rally. Many of the businesses were situated in Imamia Colony, Shahdara, Begum Kot, Bati Chowk, Sabzi Mandi and Graveyard Market. Other smaller towns and cities dependant on Lahore’s markets on a daily basis included Narowal, Ferozwala, Muridke and Gujranwala.

Some traders believed that the closure was for their own safety. Tahir Khan added these measures were taken for overall security. He said that in a political rally, shops and businesses could get damaged and the closure would protect the traders’ community and its interests.  On the other hand, some traders claimed they would lose billions of rupees due to the closure of shops. On Friday, Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran President Khalid Pervaiz said that Lahore alone could lose an estimated Rs24 billion and the rally will also affect businesses in surrounding areas

NA-120’s markets

Although major markets remained open in NA-120, the constituency from which Nawaz Sharif came to power in the 2013 General elections, the turnout of customers remained low. The bleak volume was attributed to the suspension of public transport in many areas and access was restricted from some areas near the route of the rally.

Major wholesale and retail trading hubs in the constituency include Shah Alam Market, Akbari Mandi, Urdu Bazaar, Bilal Ganj, Sua Bazaar, Brandreth road, Rang Mahal, Taxali Gate, Hall Road and McLeod Road, among other trading hubs.

Mohsin Ali, a trader in the Shah Alam market, told The Express Tribune that there were very few visitors and therefore it was a slow day for business. He added the week, overall, had seen little business activity. He blamed this phenomenon partly on political activities and partly on the weather. “Due of the various political activities in the city and the province, business activity has slowed down. Another reason is the hot and humid weather.”

Similar sentiments were shared Babar Ali Khan from Hall Road who said businesses in the markets were open, but there was a low turnout. However, he did not blame the PML-N rally, saying those who wanted to conduct business were free to do so. He attributed the low turnout in markets to the weather and said business was usually slow during this time of year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2017.