KARACHI: Business activity in Jodia Bazar, Karachi’s largest wholesale market and a key artery of the country’s commercial lifeline, has ground to a halt as hours-long power outages continue to paralyse trade.
Traders cautioned on Tuesday that if uninterrupted electricity is not restored, the consequences will devastate not only local commerce but also the national economy.
The Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA) has sounded the alarm in a strongly worded letter to K-Electric (KE), warning that relentless load shedding is inflicting billions in losses and undermining the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) digitalisation drive.
PCDMA Chairman Salim Valimuhammad said traders are unable to comply with mandatory requirements such as sales tax returns, income tax filings, and invoicing due to erratic electricity supply. “From inventory management to FBR’s digital systems, nothing is functioning. Under these conditions, it has become nearly impossible to carry out essential office work.”
He stressed that Jodia Bazar is among the highest revenue generating markets for the government, yet traders are being forced to cancel transactions or rely on costly backup generators. He added that despite repeated correspondence, K-Electric has failed to respond to the association’s concerns.
According to PCDMA, the market is subjected to four daily power cuts, all during peak business hours: 9:35am–11:05am, 1:35pm–3:05pm, 5:05pm–6:35pm, and 8:35pm–10:05pm.
The schedule leaves no uninterrupted window for commercial activity, crippling trade and eroding confidence in one of Pakistan’s most vital markets.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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