Like other parts of the country, the government has announced new working hours for markets and business centres in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Monday (today).
The government has shortened the working hours for markets aimed at conserving electricity to save the country from going deep into an electricity crisis and providing relief to the people against the scourge of load-shedding.
According to the new schedule, markets, business centres and shopping malls in the twin will remain closed at 9 pm.
According to the new schedule, restaurants, hotels, cafes and clubs, tandoors, cinemas and entertainment venues will remain closed till 11:30 pm. Pharmacies, medical stores, hospitals including petrol pumps, CNG stations, dairy shops, industries and factories and service areas and tyre shops on motorways and highways have been exempted from the new working hours.
Wedding halls will remain closed till 10 pm except for Saturdays. Traders and businessmen have been asked to decide about the weekly holiday(s) as per their convenience under which they can avail day off either on Friday or Sunday.
There has been a mixed reaction to the sanctions from traders and the business community. Some traders support the restrictions in the current situation while others are calling the restrictions on working hours at the arrival of Eid an economic murder of traders and businessmen.
Meanwhile, trader associations of the Rawalpindi district have strongly rejected the government's orders to close shops, shopping malls and trade centres at 9 pm, terming it an economic murder of traders.
All assistant commissioners have been directed to visit markets and bazaars to ensure the closure of markets shops at 9 pm.
Trader associations have asked shopkeepers to keep shops open and announced protests against the decision. They said that there was no shortage of electricity in the country and the government should pay dues to power generating companies and there will be no load-shedding.
They said that this artificial load shedding is a punishment inflicted on the people and traders by the government. Anjuman-e-Tajiran Kariana Merchant President Saleem Pervaiz Butt said that they have asked the Punjab government to take back the notification regarding one day closure of grocery shops and hotels. Grocery shops will not be closed in any case, protests and strikes will be launched if closed by force or fines and challaned were imposed, he said.
Trader leaders Sheikh Hafeez and Zafar Qadri said that the closure of shops, shopping malls and trade centres at 9 pm will prove the economic murder of traders and their families. They said that shops usually open at 12noon and business starts after sunset. The closure of the shops at 9 pm will put an end to business and traders will not be able to pay taxes, they said.
Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sabzi Mandi President Ghulam Qadir Mir said that the government should correct its economic policies instead of putting pressure on traders. “Load-shedding is artificially created by the government. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said in a TV programme that power cuts are caused by non-payment to power generating companies. Traders will not close shops at 9 pm,” he said.
Trader leader Naveed Kanwal demanded that instead of imposing a forced decision, the district administration should take the trader associations into confidence and increase the timing for closing shops and the forced closure of shops will not be allowed.
Business leaders Faheem Siddiqui and Qaiser Kayani said that the government was bent on the economic murder of traders after a complete failure. They said that the government’s wasteful spending and failed economic policies have destroyed the country's economy.
“The dollar has crossed 210 rupees, petrol price has reached the highest level in the country. Now Pakistan is turned into Sri Lanka by destroying businesses. As soon as the country defaults, the imported rulers will flee to London,” they said.
Business leader Hamad Qureshi said that Rawalpind’s Commercial Market would remain open on Monday and whoever will come to close shops forcibly, they would fight against them.
The government wants to divert people's attention from inflation and economic default by closing shops forcibly after a complete failure on all fronts, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2022.
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