Old City Traders Alliance (OCTA), representing 60 markets of old city area has announced to defy government instructions to close shops on Friday. Chairman OCTA, Jameel Ahmed Paracha said that all traders associations in old city area have decided in a meeting to open markets on Friday and close business on Sunday.
He said that 60 markets of old city area including Kharadar, Marriot Road, Judia Bazar, Juna Market, Sarrafa Bazar,, Iqbal Cloth Market, Mauton Das Market, Plastic Market, Kiryana Market, Yasin Market, Khajoor Market, Dhaga Bazar, Garment Market, Bartan Market, Chemical Market, Paper Market will not follow government decision and open shops on Friday.
He pointed out that Friday is the best day for wholesale business activities. Our sales increase by at least 20 percent on Friday compared to other days, he added. Paracha said that traders in the interior of Sindh observe weekly holiday on Friday and they come to Karachi on the same for shopping. This is the reason why our sale is high on Friday, he noted.
He said that business activities are already slow due to political uncertainty and therefore the decision to close business on Friday will further affect traders' income. He suggested the government not to force unrealistic decisions to further plunge business activities.