03-27-2010, 11:46 AM
LAHORE: Nearly all the major traders of the city have vowed to resist the government’s move to close all markets by 8pm, which the government says would save electricity, Daily Times learnt on Friday.
“Government’s decision to close markets by 8pm due to in electricity load shedding is not acceptable to us and we will not let the government impose such a harsh step forcibly,” a local trader said. “It’s not possible for us to close our shops by 8pm in the evening while we have to face severe load shedding during the whole day,” said leaders of business and trade associations.
The traders argued that until the government fully overcomes the problem of load shedding, it is not possible for them to close markets at a prescribed time. They complained that they star t their business at 11am and have to face 6 hours of load shedding daily and if they close their shops at 8pm, they will be left with only 3 hours to do their business, which is totally unfair. “Customers especially women do not like to do shopping in the day due to fear of terrorist attacks and prefer going out in the night while the hot weather also restricts them to their homes,” said Shabbir Labah, former president of Hall Road electronics market.
Naeem Mir, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Lahore Traders Wing president was of the opinion that the government should find alternative resources for generating electricity instead of creating miseries for the traders. Marble Market President Mehboob Ahmed Sirki alleged that the Lahore Electric Supply Company was conspiring against the government. staff report
“Government’s decision to close markets by 8pm due to in electricity load shedding is not acceptable to us and we will not let the government impose such a harsh step forcibly,” a local trader said. “It’s not possible for us to close our shops by 8pm in the evening while we have to face severe load shedding during the whole day,” said leaders of business and trade associations.
The traders argued that until the government fully overcomes the problem of load shedding, it is not possible for them to close markets at a prescribed time. They complained that they star t their business at 11am and have to face 6 hours of load shedding daily and if they close their shops at 8pm, they will be left with only 3 hours to do their business, which is totally unfair. “Customers especially women do not like to do shopping in the day due to fear of terrorist attacks and prefer going out in the night while the hot weather also restricts them to their homes,” said Shabbir Labah, former president of Hall Road electronics market.
Naeem Mir, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Lahore Traders Wing president was of the opinion that the government should find alternative resources for generating electricity instead of creating miseries for the traders. Marble Market President Mehboob Ahmed Sirki alleged that the Lahore Electric Supply Company was conspiring against the government. staff report