Business activities at the Hussain Agahi Road and other City markets have been affected by frequent power outages. Shopkeepers, especially cellphone, television, tape-recorder, video-recorder mechanics, have been badly affected, as they are unable to return these items to their customers on time.
Similarly, business activities at electronics and computer businesses in various shopping centres of the market have declined. A survey conducted by this scribe showed that traders are angry about frequent outages. Muhammad Imran known as computer master said he was facing difficulties due to power outages. "Mechanics lose concentration due to frequent power outages.
They are unable to deliver computers, printers, LCDs, monitors on time," he said. "We can not work without electricity because our equipment runs on electricity. It is impossible to keep generators running all the time," he said. A cellphone mechanic Mirza Wajahat Mehmood said.
"Only those shopkeepers are in business now who have made alternate arrangements," He said a mechanic repairs 10 to 12 cellphones in a day but this number has now dropped to five to seven. He said mechanics have to sit idle because of outages.Muhammad Arsalan, a worker at a computer shop, said.
"Computer dealers can not work without electricity. We have to run tests on computer parts which is not possible in the absence of electricity," he said. Tariq Mehmood Malik, an electronics goods seller, said that sale of all shopkeepers had dropped by over 40 per cent. Business was at peak from 12pmto 5 pm but now we sit idle even during this period, he said.
He said that majority of electronics items were checked at the time of sale as they were not covered by a warranty, he said. "Shopkeepers are forced to ask customers to come back again but they do not return," he said. Sale of mobile phones, however, has not been affected by outages. Cell phone dealers, however, have been hit by economic slowdown. They say sale of new sets has dropped by 20 to 30 per cent.