The city on Friday wore a complete deserted look as fears of unabated vandalism and target killings left the trade, commercial, social and academic activities completely suspended in the country's largest economic power hub, following MQM mourning day call.
MQM had called it a day of mourning to protest the violence in Baldia Town, while it had cancelled its 'march' from Karachi Press Club to CM House to press its demands. The transporters had too announced strike to protest killing of coach and bus drivers in broad daylight terrorism.
Traders lamented the downgraded business activities in almost all small and big markets, counting the financially loss into billions of rupees since the fresh wave of violence haunted the metropolis, blaming the government for failing to stem the unrest.
A cloth market was set ablaze in Aligarh Colony of Baldia Town amid tension in the city as gunfight between two rival groups left at least two dozens people dead. Markets of grain, fruits and vegetable, luxury, medicines, clothes and accessories, cutlery etc andh petrol and CNG pumps remained closed, leaving citizens in a difficult situation to fulfil their daily essential needs.
Petrol was, however, available in scant amount in a few areas for Rs 120 a litre, and Rs 150 a litre (Iranian petrol), according to the fuel buyers, who said that "petrol is unavailable as pumps operators refuse to give it us and have erected protective shields around".
All sorts of public transport remained off the roads, but some auto rickshaw and private vehicles were plying in different peaceful parts of the city. Situation in the troubled areas stayed unchanged as grim. Violence, gunfire and target killings in short spells continued all the day, according to reports.
Traders had already announced to stay out of markets for increasing lawlessness, laying the blame with the Sindh government. They said trade and business activities had been undergoing the impact of unrest in the city. Talking to Business Recorder, President of Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association, Anis Majeed, termed continued trend of violence "lethal" to the already downsized business in the city. He said that grain supply remained fully suspended to the rest of the city.
He said that dozens of consignments of essential commodities aimed for Pakistan and Afghanistan got stuck at the seaports for unavailability of cargo transportation during violence. "Export and import shipments become idle at harbour and warehouses for lack of transport carriers," he added. "Entire chain of local and international cargo transportation becomes disturbed in such a volatile situation in the city, and that happened today as supply to retail end from wholesales grain market could not be made," he added.