Traders vow to open markets by first of Ramazan

Traders on Wednesday vowed to open markets by first Ramazan and blamed the Sindh government for 'delaying tactics' to prolong the lockdown phase into the holy month.

However, the traders' bodies are unclear and divided on opening of markets on next Saturday, April 25, 2020 in a clear defiance of the government's order businesses closures during the continuing lockdown amid Covid-19 threat.

"We will first consult with the government that resumption of businesses should be permitted in a relaxed way in line with the already drawn and agreed SOPs between the government's committee and traders," Mehmood Hamid, President of All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industry told Business Recorder.

But, Sindh Tajir Ittehad, Chairman Jamil Paracha, he quoted as insisting on opening of markets by Saturday saying that economic conditions of tradesmen and daily wage workers are getting worse with each passing day in the wake of a month-long businesses closures for the lockdown.

"President Steel and Iron Market, Hamid Poonawala was arrested today after he resumed his business," he said, adding that the entire market was also sealed by the authorities. "We fear of arrest of traders especially on first day of Ramazan, therefore will seek government's consent before going into resumption," he said.

He blamed the Sindh government for not honouring its pledge to the proposed SOPs for trade and commercial activities resumption in the city, saying "a committee the Chief Minister Sindh had founded with Saeed Ghani, Mukesh Chawala and Murtaza Wahab has already formed the SOPs and handed over to the Chief Minister".

Mehmood Hamid said that the Chief Minister should enforce the SOPs that ensure a complete schedule for trade resumption and market reopening. "First the committee informed that it will seek the approval from the prime minister and later said that the federal government disapproved the SOPs therefore cannot allow trade opening," he claimed.

He said that the city's all traders' bodies are not united on opening of markets on next Saturday, as "we want to avoid clashes with the government and unrest in markets". He sought a win-win situation for the traders amid tough time of Covid-19.