The continuing sit-in protests by the followers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Islamabad have badly affected the supplies of essential items from and to upcountry, traders said on Tuesday. "The sit-ins have jolted the country's economy and widely disturbed the trade and transportation of grain items to the upcountry from Karachi ports," said Chairman Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA)," Anis Majeed.
He said the different grain supplies from the upcountry to Karachi have also been disturbed because of the blockades which the Punjab government had laid in Lahore to stop the protestors from entering the capital city. "Now the supplies of grain commodities to different cities in Punjab are gradually improving since roads are open for transportation. However, the sit-ins in Islamabad are likely to cause a lasting effect to the trade in coming weeks," he said.
He said supplies from ports remained suspended because of the political uncertainty in the country which also caused a financial loss to the importers, besides left the grain markets also affected. The protests have largely disturbed rice and cotton yarn supplies from the upcountry to Karachi and imported grain commodities like pulses to different cities in Punjab, he said, adding that "however now supplies from ports have started to reach different cities in the country".
Anis Majeed, however, made it clear that the traders will not support the civil disobedience call, which Chairman PTI, Imran Khan gave to intensify his protest movement, saying the ailing economy needs public support. "We have nothing to do with Imran Khan's call for civil disobedience in the country," he said.
Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir said the continuing sit-ins have brought trade and business activities to a standstill in the metropolis, adding that "local businesses have suffered billion of rupees loss since the agitation against politically elected government has begun by the PTI and PAT. He showed reservations over the call for civil disobedience in the country, saying the continuing political chaos is not less than a trouble to cause problems for the country's economy. He said the prolonging of sit-ins will bring about a big financial loss to the national exchequer and cause problems for traders as well.
"Over Rs 30 billion loss the local trade and businesses have suffered since the agitation by the PTI and PAT has begun to hit the country capital city," he said, adding that turmoil scalded down trade and business activities by 80 percent in the metropolis.