In a strong show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and in protest against Israeli aggression, all major and minor markets and shopping centers across Karachi remained closed on Monday. The business community united in their protest, shutting down operations to express their outrage over the ongoing violence in Gaza.
All electronics markets in the city remained closed. Key commercial areas such as Meethadar, the Old City area, and Sarafa Bazaar also remained shut. Due to the closure of the Sarafa Bazaar, gold rates could not be issued for the day.
Other major markets and business hubs, including Kagzi Bazaar, Jodia Bazaar, Aram Bagh, Hyderi, Nagan Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, all markets along Abdullah Haroon Road including Madina City Mall, The Centre, Zainab Market, Bohri Bazaar, all Saddar markets, Clifton, Defence, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Malir, Landhi, Korangi, Golimar, Lasbela, Pak Colony, all medicine markets, the mobile market, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar, remained closed. Over 90% of the city's commercial activity came to a halt as traders voiced their anger against the Israeli military operations in Palestine.
Jodia Bazaar's central leader, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, said, "We stand with our Palestinian brothers and express our strong condemnation of Israeli atrocities." Rizwan Irfan, President of the Karachi Electronics Market, stated that traders responded to the call for a shutdown, proving their solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Sharjeel Goplani, President of the Karachi Timber Merchants Group, added that traders halted their businesses to show complete unity with the oppressed Palestinians, and that the global supporters of Israel should now clearly see the sentiments of the Pakistani people.
Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, head of the Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association, said that not a single shop in Jodia Bazaar-the country's largest wholesale market-was open and not a single grain was sold locally or nationwide.
The Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association also set up a protest camp against Israeli actions. Protest rallies were organized by the All City Traders Ittehad Association and the Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association, where leaders including Minhaj Gulfam addressed the gatherings.
Traders' leader Shakir Fancy said that in protest against Israel's brutal violence in Gaza, the markets remained completely closed. Yaqoob Bali, Chairman of Kagzi Bazaar Old City Traders Ittehad, also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned Israeli actions.
The Aram Bagh Traders Association fully supported the strike and kept their businesses closed. Mohammad Aslam Polani, General Secretary of the Medicine Market, confirmed that all medicine markets were shut on Monday. Faheem Ahmed Noori, President of the Saddar Alliance of Market and Mall Associations, said that all markets in Saddar were closed in protest against Israeli atrocities.
Hakim Shah, President of Lighthouse Market Association, stated that all Lighthouse markets were shut as a gesture of solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza.
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