City traders on Sunday have expressed concern over increasing crimes rate during the Holy month of Ramadan and urged the district administration to increase security around all markets and shopping malls as Eid shopping gains momentum. Expressing dissatisfaction over the security arrangements made for shopping areas, they said that deployment of police personnel was insufficient as compared to the number of shoppers.
Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran President, Sharjeel Mir while talking to APP said, that policemen in plain clothes should be deployed in vulnerable areas. He said that action should be taken against the increasing number of beggars, who, he said were mostly involved in criminal activities like pick-pocketing and snatching items from people visiting the markets.
Sharjeel also demanded of the District administration to remove illegal encroachments from the city busiest markets to end frequent traffic jams which was affecting their businesses. He said illegal car parking was common even in the presence of traffic cops, creating massive traffic long jam and also causing accidents. He said due to lack of parking space many markets of downtown areas were losing customers and distances of minutes are being covered in hours due to acute road encroachments and traffic stuck-ups.
President Commercial Market, Raja Tauheed also asked the concerned to beef up security of city markets especially during the evening hours.
When contacted, City Police Officer (CPO) Afzzal Ahmed Kausar assured that foolproof security arrangements were being made to provide security to shopping public so that customers as well as traders felt a sense of security.