Karachi businessmen appeal govt to allow opening of markets on last two days before Eid

• KCCI has appealed to the Sindh government to allow the markets to operate on the last two days before the holy festival.
  
• The former KCCI president says there is some room available to let shopkeepers do business at least on Wednesday and Thursday.
• The representatives of these commercial markets associations have also assured to fully comply with SOPs, say KCCI officials.
  

KARACHI: As the country experiences a complete lockdown ahead of Eid, the officials at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have appealed to the Sindh government to allow the markets to operate on the last two days before the holy festival, The News reported on Wednesday.

Speaking about the losses faced by the traders during these crucial days ahead of Eid, Chairman Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI Zubair Motiwala, in a statement, said: “It was imperative for them to be able to recover some of the grave losses suffered by them due to stringent curbs imposed to contain further spread of COVID-19 pandemic."

“Keeping in view the not so bad number of COVID-19 cases in Karachi, we believe there is some room available to let shopkeepers do business at least on Wednesday and Thursday from Iftar to Sehri,” he added.

Read more: COVID-19 hits business hard as Karachi sees worst Eid sales in history

The former KCCI chief said the move would be not only be welcomed by small traders and shopkeepers but also by a large number of citizens who will be able to complete their unfinished shopping for the Eid festival.

Pressure on KCCI

According to Motiwala, associations of commercial markets from all across the city have been constantly exerting pressure on the KCCI so that the body could play its part in convincing the government to allow businesses to keep on operating during the last two days.

He said that the representatives of these commercial markets associations have also assured to fully comply with SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) during these days.”

“Instead of completely shutting down businesses, the government should allow them to keep on running their businesses from Iftar to Sehri during the last two days before Eid,” he insisted.

Motiwala further said that it would obviously discourage overcrowding as all the markets in the city would be simultaneously operational and social distancing will easily be ensured all the time.

Read more: Shoppers flock to Karachi markets on last day of Eid shopping

'People's government'

Meanwhile, President KCCI Shariq Vohra stated it was high time for the Sindh government, being the peoples’ government, to come forward to minimise the hardships being faced by the distressed citizens and the business community.

Chairman of KCCI’s Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon pointed out many shopkeepers were already going through terrible crises due to limited business activities since the outbreak of the pandemic hence.

“The government must look into the possibility of providing them relief for just two days before Eid by allowing them to carry on businesses from Iftar to Sehri otherwise many businesses will not be able to survive and wipes out forever,” Memon asserted.