Stiff security arrangements on MA Jinnah Road started its negative impacts on trade and business activities from Thursday, which businessmen expect to continue till next Monday. The government's concerned department has begun blocking links roads to main MA Jinnah Road with containers in a move to fail violent attacks at Ashura and prior processions on Friday and Saturday.
Police and Rangers have been deployed on the road to maintain law and order on MA Jinnah Road and elsewhere in the city. The security arrangements have however badly affected business activities. "Just 10 percent of business activities have taken place on Thursday as markets remained abandoned by the buyers because of the poor law and order and increased security arrangements," said Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), Atiq Mir.
Every coming year the security situation in Muharram became increasingly deteriorated in the country, which created more panic and hostility, he said. "The government should evolve an exhaustive strategy to scale down the impact of poor law and order on the citizens and their general life," he appealed.
Trade activities began scaling down from Thursday because of the improved security arrangements, he said, adding that "as a result over Rs 2billion loss the businesses witnessed on Thursday." He said wholesales markets of grain, cosmetics, plastic wares, timber, paper, dates, shoes, medicines and general items in the old city area remained largely unattended by the customers.
He said markets in Clifton, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Tariq Road and elsewhere remained partially affected. Atiq Mir feared there were minimum chances left for traders of markets located on MA Jinnah Road to open their businesses fully on Friday and Saturday. "The security arrangements seem to push the traders to keep their shops shut," he added.