Closure of CNG supply badly hits trade activities

ANWAR KHAN

KARACHI: The two-day weekly closure of CNG supply has brought trade activities in the city to a nearly halt with routine electricity load shedding in markets, as traders reckon their businesses suffer at least Rs1 billion loss daily for several such other reasons.

The gas supply stoppage reduced the pubic and goods transport in the city during the last two days due to which customers could not visit markets, leaving business activities dull, traders said.

"Unfortunately, Muharram started with violence on Sunday, which largely left traders panicked," said Chairman, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), Atiq Mir.

He feared the weekly closure of CNG supply would further downsize the troubled businesses in the country.

Criticising the government for its 'abrupt and inapt' decision to close CNG supply for two days a week, he said such a 'negative' move had caused collapse of public transport system just in a day causing severe problems to the general public.

"Almost all markets wore a deserted look as there was few customers today due to unavailability of public transport converted into CNG fuel," he said.

A visit to some markets in Saddar area revealed that customers could not turned up for shopping due to thin public transport on the city's roads.

Atiq Mir pointed out that VIP movements in the city including Prime Minister's visit to Karachi also caused public troubles as a number of roads were closed for vehicular traffic. Besides, he said, the evening hours of Muharram gathering particularly on M. A. Jinnah Road also forced markets to shut much earlier.

Showing concerns, he said, the rising law and order situation in markets has panicked the traders, besides political uncertainty prevailing in the country.

He said, "a rumour is rife in the markets about possible dissolution of the present government, which also perturbed the businessmen and dissuades the investors to take risk." The four hours long power outage had also negatively impacted the business activities, he added.

"The traders estimate around Rs15-20 billion loss in the first 10 days of Muharram on account of dull businesses," AKTI chairman added.