Pace of business activities in the city has not yet geared up as most of people prefer to stay indoors in the persisting searing heat that had already claimed hundreds of lives. Moreover, frequent power outages and prolonged loadshedding are also wrecking havoc not only in residential areas but also in commercial markets where, according to traders, power failures of longer duration and unscheduled loadshedding have become a matter of routine.
Shopkeepers of major commercial centres and shopping malls said that although Eid shopping generally start picking up in the first week of Ramazan, even normal shopping routine was being witnessed nowadays. "As a matter of fact even shopaholics are not being seen in shopping centres," remarked a shopkeeper of a main shopping mall.
Attributing slow pace of business activities in the city to persisting heat wave, shopkeepers said that most of shopkeepers, particularly women, have not been doing shopping during day time to avoid exposure to sun rays in the current baking weather. A shopkeeper of Samam shopping mall said that the sale has fallen sharply in the last one week. Meanwhile, shops selling ice, yogurt, soft drinks and beverages have been doing roaring business in the current hot and humid weather.