Pakistan

Traders refuse to accept early closure of markets

Express April 21, 2010

KARACHI: Chairman Karachi Traders Action Committee (KTAC) Siddique Memon said that the decision to close business centers and markets by 10 pm would not be accepted, adding that, 2 holiday in one week should not be imposed on traders.

The unwise decision taken by energy conference would not be implemented at any cost, he said this while talking to media here on Wednesday.

The Government is holding talks with industrialists instead of traders, he said.

Siddique Memon went on to say that the industrialists have no idea of suffering of traders in term of loadshedding because they are exempted from loadshedding.

He advised rulers to find ways and means to overcome loadshedding by devising strategy at national level because it has become a national issue instead of local. The traders would go on shutter down strike if even a single megawatt electricity was slashed by Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), he warned.

He further said that Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is bound to supply 630 megawatt electricity to KESC on daily basis under the agreement. We are not taking electricity from Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) on charity and if supply of electricity was reduced in Karachi then business structure would be dismantled.

KESC can also get 1100 megawatt electricity daily from Bin Qasim Power Plant but it is not utilizing this plan to save furnace oil, he added. Electricity shortage would be removed in Karachi if Bin Qasim Power Plan made functional.

COMMENTS (5)

Ameer Hamza | 14 years ago | Reply It is inconceivable for us in Karachi to close shops at 8 PM. I am not sure why because I close my shop at 8 daily and feel no loss of customers or business. It usually happens that customers come to realize that you aren't there till 10 so better do all the shopping by 8. I feel that traders in Karachi and elsewhere are being redundant when they say they cannot close at 8. How sick is that.

AZMAT KHAN | 14 years ago | Reply THE TRADERS CANNOT CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS AT 10PM BECAUSE THE POOR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY FROM HAND TO MOUTH.THIS MEASURE WILL RUIN THEM FOR EVER.PLEASE TAKE PITY ON THIS NATION.OUR SELFISHNESS WILL NEVER LET STAND ON OUR FEET.GOD TAKE PITY ON THESE COUNTRYMEN.AMEN.

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Shayaan | 14 years ago | Reply I agree with the first post. Times are changing and everyone needs to get on the bandwagon. It will be difficult at first to understand why daylight needs to utilized properly in an emergency sitution.

Fayyaz Alam | 14 years ago | Reply Poor traders! I feel sorry for them. People in the West close their shops when they like, not because there is no electricity. Even in London, asian shopkeepers remain open till late, while white shopkeepers close early to go clubbing or spend time with their familiies. White people are happy that they can buy things later because of Asian serving till late. People often go shopping when they finish work. Above example is of small shops. Big stores/restaurants stay open till late and some are even 24 hours. For example, Tesco stores open from 6 am till 11 pm and there are many which remain open 24 hours.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply Shopkeepers must understand the gravity of the situation. It is only Pakistani shopkeepers who open shops at 13:00 hrs every day and then sit in the shops to wait for the customers until 12 in the midnight. The reason why shopkeepers open shops at 13:00 hrs is due to one simple reason. They wake up late in the night to watch Indian movies on their TV screens. If the shopkeepers go to bed early in the night they can manage to open their shops at 9am every morning and without fail. In developed countries shopkeepers do not entertain customers after 5pm, except in the case of a festival. Similar exemption can be given to shopkeepers after 15th of Ramadan. The government should not be blackmailed by the threats of shopkeepers. Violators should be heavily fined and shop act should be adhered in letter and sprit.

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