Trade and industry: violence causes Rs 10 billion loss

The daylong violence on Tuesday left trade and industry altogether closed in the metropolis, inflicting at least Rs 10 billion loss on businessmen and manufacturers, traders said. The killings, riots and vandalism badly affected the 2.5 million daily wage workers, depending on daily jobs in different markets and manufacturing units of the city, traders say, adding the sporadic violence left the city burning and paralysed trade and business activities.
At least eight innocent people were killed in the violence that started in pre-dawn hours in the metropolis after Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) worker was targeted at his home in PIB colony. Over 42 vehicles were burnt during the violence, which brought the public and cargo transportation to a standstill.
With suspension of transportation, supplies of fruit, vegetable and grain to across the city could not be made, as violence either forced the traders to shut their businesses after opening them in early hours or did not let them to resume their daily activities, traders said.
"100 percent markets in the city remained closed due to violence," said Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Muhammad Atiq Mir. He said that all the markets of old city area, Urdu Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar of Saddar, Jodia Bazaar, Bolton Market, Grain Market, Cloth Market, Garden Market, Methadar and Kharadar Markets, New Dehli Cloth market, Luknow Cloth Market, Gul Plaza, Aashina Market in Clifton and Maryyam Market in Saddar were closed on Tuesday for the fears of violence. He said the small traders suffered at least Rs 3 billion while the violence cost the manufacturing sector at least Rs 7 billion, besides the loss and damage from burning of busses, trucks and other vehicles.
"The government can solely be held responsible for the violence in the city, as it has the authority and responsibility to establish the writ of the state and arrest the criminals and killers, in which it has failed miserably," he said. The prevailing sense of insecurity among the citizens and traders causes the city to wear a deserted look in every violent incident, he added. He said supplies of essential commodities and medicines could not be made.
He said violence always left the daily wage labourers suffered the most, adding that there were about 2.5 million workers who depended on everyday earning through working in markets and manufacturing units. He said the government had to solve the problems of all stakeholders in the city if it wanted to restore peace in the metropolis on permanent basis.