A complete shutter-down was observed on Saturday in Multan and elsewhere in Southern Punjab on the combined call of Markazi Anjuman Tajiran, Traders' Chamber and Qaumi Tajir Ittehad against prolonged power outages. Traders in cantonment areas were, however, divided and a few shops were open in these areas.
Activists of the traders' wings of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, People's Saraiki Party, Jammat Islami expressed their solidarity with the traders and took out rallies in their support. Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) also supported the strike.
MCCI's president Mian Anis A Sheikh said: "We have morally supported to the strike. We did not join it." He said traders of Multan observed a peaceful. All major markets, including Chowk Bazar, Kale Mandi, Haram Gate, Pak Gate, Sarafa Bazar, Daulat Gate, Lohari gate, Bohar Gate, Khuni Burj, TB Hospital Road, Hazoori Bagh Road, medicine wholesale market, Manzoorabad, Timber Market, Urdu Bazar, Tughlaq Road, Kutchery Road, LMQ Road, Chamra Mandi, Ganna Mandi, Grain Mandi, Delhi Gate and Hassan Arcade remained closed in Multan. Even the shopping centres of pro-PPP traders also remained closed.
President of the Traders Association Khwaja Muhammad Shafiq said: " This was a successful strike because 100 percent traders gave positive response and all major markets shopping centres, grocery and vegetable markets remained closed." President of the Traders' Chamber Khalid Mehmood said: "More than 2,000 traders joined the rally. They burnt tyres, blocking the traffic. More than a dozen demonstrations were staged all over the city."