Lockdown-hit traders threaten to reopen markets

Ag Agencies

KARACHI/QUETTA/PESHAWAR: Traders bodies in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have threatened to open marketplaces in their respective provinces from today (Wednesday) as the federal government eased virus restrictions for the construction industry.

This comes as the federal government extended the nationwide lockdown for the next two weeks, while easing restrictions in certain sectors like construction.

Businesses nationwide have felt the pinch from the widespread lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. But traders, weary of the lockdowns, demanded of the government to establish standard operating procedures so they could implement them and get back to work.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Sindh Traders Alliance Chairman Jamil Paracha announced that all markets across the province will open from Wednesday. “Traders have cooperated with the Sindh government amid the pandemic by closing all markets for 28 days, but now the markets across Karachi would be opened from April 15 as lockdown had suffered a huge loss to traders,” he said.

He added that owners are not in a position to pay salaries amid zero sales, warning that if the lockdown is not lifted traders will be forced to sack employees. “If we are not allowed to resume business activities from tomorrow the traders will utilise the second option by staging a sit-in in front of Chief Minister House,” he added.

Paracha, donning a mask and gloves, insisted that trade activities will resume by adopting “all protective measures”. He added: “We will keep all precautionary measures in mind while re-opening businesses.”

In Balochistan, the province’s main traders’ body rejected the federal government’s lockdown extension. At a news conference, Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajiran Balochistan President Abdul Rahim Kakar said traders of the province were facing losses of “millions of rupees”. He said parleys were held with the provincial government in connection with the lockdown and the government’s negotiating team had agreed to open shops and business centres phase-wise.

Meanwhile, traders in Peshawar warned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government that if the administration does not let them resume business activities from today, they will open the markets themselves in defiance of orders. The businessmen have also formed an eight member committee for talks with the authorities. Following this, Ajmal Wazir said the a package for small traders is ready and will soon announce it.