The city on Saturday largely returned to normality after four days of unrest leaving at least 100 people dead and inflicting billion of rupees' loss to the trade and industry. Traders claimed about 80 percent of markets had resumed business activities after four days of tension gripping the country's largest financial and industrial city with fears of vandalism and target killings.
Trade and industrial activities, academic sessions at school, colleges and universities resumed, despite reports of tension in troubled areas of the metropolis. The reduced public transport, however, witnessed plying on the roads of various routes.
"Eighty percent of markets in Saddar, Clifton, Tariq Road, Liaquatabad, Nursery, Defence, M.A. Jinnah Road, Bohrapir, Urdu Bazaar, Marriot Road, Mithadar, Jodia Bazaar, and other trade centers in different areas have resumed activities," Chairman of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Muhammad Atiq Mir, told Business Recorder.
However, a thin presence of buyers was witnessed despite markets were open because of the fear of violence. Markets gave a deserted look and dull trade activities were seen in the city's different markets. Businessmen community showed fears about the downsized trade activities in almost all small and big markets, saying their financial loss had mounted into billions of rupees since the fresh wave of target killings hit the metropolis, blaming the government for failing to stem the unrest.
Markets of grain, fruits and vegetables, medicines, clothes and accessories, cutlery, etc, remained shuttered down during the chaos in the city. Petrol and CNG pumps remained closed. All sorts of public transport remained off the road, but auto rickshaw and private vehicles continued plying in different peaceful parts of the city. Situation in the troubled areas stayed unchanged as grim. Violence, gunfire and target killings in short spells continued all the day, according to reports.