Despite the city on Friday embraced greater normalcy, yet the traders' worries about the fragile peace and political uncertainties remained largely high, saying that they were under severe pressure to continue businesses in spontaneous violence.
Trade in the city during the last one week of violence suffered at least Rs 15 billion losses with laying off millions of daily-wage labourers in different markets, besides destruction of millions of rupees property and businesses from vandalism, they said.
"Our worries are not going to finish because peace in the city is no more a reality, and violence may again resume anytime to leave trade and business activities completely suspended," they added.
Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Muhammad Atiq said that the businessmen community was under severe pressure for the continued violence in the metropolis, which inflicted billions of rupees loss on them.
He said the most sufferers from violence were the small scale traders and daily wage labourers, and added that there were about two million such workers engaged in markets to earn a small chunk of remuneration. Only 0.2 million daily wagers work at the markets of old city area, who for five days during the last week could not reach their workplace, he added.
"If there is violence, and causes markets closure, then these traders and daily wagers would remain out of job. As a result, it would bring them on the verge of destitution," he viewed. He said despite the city markets resumed trade activities after a day of unrest, but traders were unhappy and were anticipating more violence anytime soon. He added tat the government's policy and action did not match with to restoration of peace in the city.
Atiq said that only two days' trade activities took place in the markets of old city areas and four days in other parts during last one week, as violence gripped the metropolis with target killings and vandalism. "The old city markets, which include the country's largest iron sheet and timber markets, do Rs 1.5 billion trade alone every day out of the city's total trade of Rs 3 billion," he said.
He said traders were unable to recognise the present state of peace could remain longer than few days, adding the role of political parties should be more practical to stem the unrest to protect the citizens and businesses from violence and vandalism. "At present, traders do not see any political solution to the present unrest and uncertainty," Atiq said, adding that the government should undertake its responsibility and speed up efforts for a permanent peace.
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