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Religious parties' ongoing sit-in at Old Exhibition traffic intersection on Monday badly affected business activities in the city's downtown markets. According to traders, business activities in the city on Monday declined 60 per cent in the wake of the protest. Sunday's Lahore blast that killed at least 70 people and left more than 300 injured made the city's atmosphere gloomy and as such customers stayed away from markets on Monday.
All Karachi Tajir Ittehad's chairman Atiq Mir said: "The protesters' sit-in on M. A. Jinnah Road, Lahore's tragic incident and riots in Islamabad forced buyers to stay away from markets." He urged the Sindh government to initiate dialogue with the protesters for bringing an end to prevailing chaos and confusion in the metropolis. The authorities have erected barricades and placed containers on all those roads leading to the Old Exhibition traffic intersection where protesters belonging to different religious parties are staging a sit-in in support of those who reportedly indulged in riots in Islamabad on Sunday to press the government for the acceptance of their demands.
With the closure of M.A. Jinnah Road, business activities at several markets, including grain, cloth, electronics, medicines and other essential household items, have almost come to a halt. Expressing grief and sorrow over Lahore's park suicidal attack, Atiq Mir said that such terror incidents not only affect the business, but also bring a halt to investments in the country.
He demanded of the government to evolve a proper strategy to root out terrorism from the country, besides taking foolproof measures for bringing an end to the menace of smuggling of goods as well as of human. He urged Sindh government to negotiate with those staging sit-in on M. A. Jinnah Road so that business activities could resume in the city's downtown markets.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016

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