KARACHI: The city's markets on Saturday remained closed in response to a shutter-down strike call given by traders in protest against the increasing incidents of extortion's and robberies and abduction of traders. The city presented a deserted look particularly in the downtown and old areas. In the outskirts, however, daily life was normal.
Public transport was off the road. Schools, colleges and universities remained closed. The supply of essential commodities like grain, fruit and vegetable from major markets to retail end also remained suspended as patrol pumps stopped providing fuel to vehicles.
Traders observed a 'Black Day' against the high incidence of extortion in the city markets. According to them, death threats and abduction for ransom cases have become a routine matter, forcing them to downsize their businesses drastically.
According to traders, markets in the old city areas, Jodia Bazaar, Lee Market, Bolton Market, Methadar and Kharadar, plastic market, medicine market of Arambagh, all furniture markets, garment market besides, Tariq Road, Zainab market, motorcycle and bicycle markets remained shut.
Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Muhammad Atiq Mir told Business Recorder that all markets of the city observed a shutter-down strike to protest against the incidents of extortion in the city. He said the government had failed to clamp down on outlaws who had caused immense harm to city's key businesses areas.
"Bad governance has scaled down trade and business activities to mere a few percent in the new season," he said, adding that if the government did not take action the city's trade activities would come to a complete halt. He said that traders were now planning to pull out their capital to invest it elsewhere in the country as Karachi's business atmosphere was no longer conducive for them. Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had announced their support to traders' strike call.