The daily life and business activities remained suspended on Thursday, however the city gave a festival-like look on the eve of PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto's arrival in Karachi after eight years of exile.
All big markets and commercial centres in the city including Saddar, Lyari, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Burns Road, Bhitaiabad, Quaidabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sachal Goth and many other localities remained closed.
The public transport remained very thin in the city as a lot of people going to offices were seen waiting for public transport at many bus stands. However, the public transport remained completely off the roads leading to Shahrah-e-Faisal. All the petrol pumps and shops along both sides of Shahrah-e-Faisal and some other roads were also closed.
The shops and markets were closed by the traders in other parts of the city on their own. It may be noted that PPP had given no call for closure of business and transport. The educational institutes remained closed across the city as the Sindh government announced holiday.
The attendance in private and government offices also remained thin. A large number of vehicles carrying PPP activists were seen parked along Shahrah-e-Faisal, Sahrah-e-Quaideeen, People's Secretariat and other areas to accord warm welcome to Benazir Bhutto.
A huge number of vehicles carrying PPP activists including buses, coaches and cars coming from interior of Sindh and other parts of country were seen going to airport. Due to closure of petrol pumps, vehicle owners faced problems. Most of the citizens preferred to remain indoors and were busy watching TV coverage of PPP rallies and one day international cricket match being played between South Africa and Pakistan.