Early market shutdown: Traders split over govt power plan
MNA assures businessmen of sharing their concerns with the PM.
PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Traders failed to develop consensus on the government’s recently-announced power management plan, which would force shops in the capital to close as early as 8pm.
A meeting convened by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday discussed the recent announcement, but “there is no consensus over closure of shops along the deadlines announced by the government,” said Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries President Kamran Abbasi.
Abbasi said that without comprehending the fallout, the city administration had started forcing shopkeepers in main markets to close up by 8pm. “Such actions on part of administration is tantamount to harassment,” Abbasi said.
He said the ruling party MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who also attended the meeting, assured the business community that their concerns would be shared with the prime minister.
A statement released by the ICCI said, “The business community showed great concern over the unilateral government decision to shut down markets and shops by 8:00pm in Islamabad. They said that being key stakeholders in the issue, the government should have taken traders representatives into confidence before arriving at such an important decision.”
ICCI President Muzzamil Hussain Sabri said the business community was ready to fully cooperate with the government in its energy conservation initiatives, but added that the government should utilise all options to save trade and industry from any harmful consequences.
Sabri said 7pm to 8pm were peak hours for business during the summer as consumers normally go out well after sunset, and forcing early closure of markets and shops would create difficulties for consumers while also hurting commerce.
He said that if the government ensures uninterrupted power supply in markets and business centres from 6pm to 9pm, the traders could consider closing shops after 9pm. He said an across-the-board policy should be adopted.
Ajmal Baloch, another traders’ group official said construction of roads and motorways was important for the country, but government should give first preference to business and industry, because without ensuring uninterrupted power supply, it was not possible to run the wheels of the economy smoothly and achieve growth.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the meeting suggested that the threat of protests by some traders was muted by those traders who are aligned with the ruling party.
The meeting was attended by Presidents Traders Welfare Associations of Jinnah Super, Super Market, F-10 Markaz, Blue Area, I-9 Markaz, Melody Market, Peshawar Morr Market, G-9 Markaz, G-11 Markaz and many other markets’ representatives.
Timing trouble
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2015.
Traders failed to develop consensus on the government’s recently-announced power management plan, which would force shops in the capital to close as early as 8pm.
A meeting convened by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday discussed the recent announcement, but “there is no consensus over closure of shops along the deadlines announced by the government,” said Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries President Kamran Abbasi.
Abbasi said that without comprehending the fallout, the city administration had started forcing shopkeepers in main markets to close up by 8pm. “Such actions on part of administration is tantamount to harassment,” Abbasi said.
He said the ruling party MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who also attended the meeting, assured the business community that their concerns would be shared with the prime minister.
A statement released by the ICCI said, “The business community showed great concern over the unilateral government decision to shut down markets and shops by 8:00pm in Islamabad. They said that being key stakeholders in the issue, the government should have taken traders representatives into confidence before arriving at such an important decision.”
ICCI President Muzzamil Hussain Sabri said the business community was ready to fully cooperate with the government in its energy conservation initiatives, but added that the government should utilise all options to save trade and industry from any harmful consequences.
Sabri said 7pm to 8pm were peak hours for business during the summer as consumers normally go out well after sunset, and forcing early closure of markets and shops would create difficulties for consumers while also hurting commerce.
He said that if the government ensures uninterrupted power supply in markets and business centres from 6pm to 9pm, the traders could consider closing shops after 9pm. He said an across-the-board policy should be adopted.
Ajmal Baloch, another traders’ group official said construction of roads and motorways was important for the country, but government should give first preference to business and industry, because without ensuring uninterrupted power supply, it was not possible to run the wheels of the economy smoothly and achieve growth.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the meeting suggested that the threat of protests by some traders was muted by those traders who are aligned with the ruling party.
The meeting was attended by Presidents Traders Welfare Associations of Jinnah Super, Super Market, F-10 Markaz, Blue Area, I-9 Markaz, Melody Market, Peshawar Morr Market, G-9 Markaz, G-11 Markaz and many other markets’ representatives.
Timing trouble
| Type of business | Closing time |
| Shops | 8pm |
| Wedding halls | 10pm |
| Restaurants | 11pm |
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2015.