Reopening of M A Jinnah Road: old city markets resume trade

Markets of the old city area have fully resumed trade and commercial activities with the reopening of M A Jinnah Road for all kind of vehicular traffic from Denso Hall to Merewether Tower. The road had been closed over the last three weeks because the terrorists had set ablaze some trade buildings in the old city area on December 28.
Almost a week of efforts the fire, which is still of a historic nature since the British era, was extinguished and subsequently the revamping of the colonial age buildings barred the traffic movement through the affected area of the city.
Trade and commercial activities were witnessed on Wednesday in the markets, as consumers began to visit these markets where traders had frozen their businesses for lack of security and fear of more terror incidents, following the devastating one on Ashura day.
However, traders of the arson-destroyed 28 markets with over 2900 shops linked the trade resumption with rebuilding of their shops, where still either revamping or demolition of structures is underway.
Traders hope that their businesses will soon take off once these markets begin coming out from the terror fears, although security concerns are still in their minds. About 2655 shops have so far got them registered for receiving compensation out of over 2900 destroyed shops, traders said. Overall 150 markets with 20,000 shops were badly affected from the closure of M A Jinnah Road which remained closed for vehicular traffic since December 28 until January 23, according to traders of the area.
Sales of all sorts of products had declined significantly during the period. Trade at the plastic market, which was one of the worst arson-hit buildings, had resumed on Tuesday where a large number of consumers were witnessed at its retail shops to buy needed household products.
The closure of the road was largely forced by the traders who had lost their businesses in arson wanted to pressurise the government for early release of funds but could not gain their goals, a trader said. Many traders with intact businesses wanted the reopening of the road as their businesses suffered during last three weeks.