Early market closures: Traders strike on Apr 28

ISLAMABAD:

Traders in the capital have announced to observe a shutter-down strike on April 28 to register their protest against the government’s decision of early closure of shops.

The decision was taken in a meeting of local traders representing various markets of the city. The government has directed closure of shops by 8pm in a bid to control electricity shortage.

Anjuman-e-Tajiran Pakistan President Ajmal Baloch, Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajiran Islamabad President Muhammad Kashif, presidents and general secretaries of market unions of Islamabad and a large number of members of the business community were present at the meeting.

The traders said the government should have taken them onboard before taking the decision which is affecting their livelihood.

They said the local administration had started visiting main markets of the capital to pressurise shopkeepers to close shops, which was highly condemnable.

The traders said they would never accept closure of shops by 8pm.

They appealed to the prime minister to take notice of such “bureaucratic tactics” and withdraw the decision taken “without any consultation with the main stakeholders”.

They said that they would protect their rights at every cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2015.