Traders and shopkeepers have thanked Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and the Sindh government on the decision to relax closing time of shops upto 9.00 pm where the shops are lighted by KESC and with no limit for closing hours in respect of markets, which are using their own generators to illuminate their shops and markets.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Haroon Farooki in his statement on Wednesday said that on some misguiding reports from KESC, the shops and establishments in Karachi were directed by an order of the provincial government to down their shutters by 8.00 pm sharp, on the plea that early closure of shops and establishments would save energy.
He said the KCCI took up this matter with the provincial government and a delegation of market associations led by him and Siraj Kassam Teli met the chief minister and had a detailed meeting on the issue of load shedding and closure of shops and markets by 8.00 pm.
"We told the CM that there are many markets in the city, like Gul Centre Saddar, which have not even been provided any electricity connection by KESC, how their opening could be putting any load on the KESC's power distribution," said Haroon Farooki.
The chief minister was convinced that even after the early closure of markets in the city, the frequent breakdown of electricity throughout the day and nights in entire city was continuing, and, therefore, there was hardly any force in the plea taken by KESC for getting the shops closed earlier.
It was also pleaded by the delegation that in summer seasons, the people go for shopping after 7.00 pm and closure of markets by 8.00 pm was also causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public.
The chief minister has agreed with the KCCI's presentation on the issue, and has ordered that markets/shops opening time shall be relaxed up to 9.00 pm instead of 8.00 pm. The shopkeepers and market association have assured to voluntarily reduce the electricity consumption and would use 50 percent lights during 8.00 to 9.00 pm. The KCCI will nominate a committee in each market to keep a watch that no shopkeeper uses excessive power to light the shop. Marriage halls shall not use decoration lights before 9.00 pm.
The KCCI will provide to the provincial government and KESC the names of those markets, which have their own electricity generation sets and such markets will be permitted to keep the shops and establishments open even after 9.00 pm subject to the condition that KESC's power will not be used by them. "If the shopkeepers or market associations use the KESC electricity after 9.00 pm they would face penalty," mentioned the KCCI chief.