Violence, floods badly hit Eid shopping

Due to continued violence in the city it is feared that it would badly hit the over Rs 70 billion Eid sales, as shopping for the festival is seen 70 percent down this year, traders said on Wednesday. Karachi's Rs 10 billion trade with other cities of the country that takes place every year ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr is also believed phenomenally affected by the recent floods, which has left road communication network altogether disconnected, they said.
"Traders and customers are in deep shock, fearing abrupt eruption of violence, which each time claims dozens of innocent lives besides leaving property destroyed and city in utter chaos," said the Chairman of All Karachi Tajir Itihad, M Atiq Mir. He said that customers are reluctant to visit markets for Eid shopping because of strong fear of target killings and the subsequent trend of arson in the city, due to which traders reckon huge losses with 70 percent decline in sales this year.
"Karachi--once the city of glitters, which the country's every citizen would like to enjoy with its vast waving beaches, sea sights, harbour and islands, cinema shows till midnight, buggy travelling and shopping--has been plagued by violence of target killings," he lamented.
Atiq said that during Ramazan customers used to throng shopping centres for buying readymade garments, fabric, ladies' costumes, children's garments, shoes, artificial jewellery, perfume, bracelets, clothes and toys for kids, etc, for Eid-ul Fitr. Expressing apprehension, he said, a large number of city's markets were giving a deserted look and traders were forced to downsize their businesses with a significant reduction of labourers to sustain losses.
"The whole season of Eid shopping normally fetches over Rs 70 billion in the city alone. Unfortunately, the unabated violence and floods have badly hit the trade activities, not only here but in other parts of the country," he said. Similarly, Karachi's buyers place orders of about Rs 10 billion with other cities' traders for different Eid items, he said, adding that as floods had severed major links among the provinces, there was also a fear of huge financial loss the country's traders would suffer.
Criticising the government, he said that the government had failed to clamp down on target killers in the city and protect the property of its citizens from arson. He demanded of the government to also boost the customers' confidence with enhanced security measures in all markets and thoroughfares so that Eid shopping season could get impetus. Atiq also urged the political parties to come together for resolution of conflicts so that the city could get rid of violence and regain its past image of liveliness.