KARACHI, May 9: While the KESC aims to save 80 megawatts of power with the closure of shops at 9pm, shopkeepers appeared too lethargic in closing their shutters on the official closing time on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, reports of frequent and prolonged power breakdowns were received from many parts of the city.

Traders said that the load-shedding in markets continued for several hours, which give bleak signals that the utility company and the government are not ready to handle the power crisis on a priority basis this year.

Traders said that they will have to chalk out a future strategy in case the load-shedding continues in the mornings and evenings.

Traders at the electronic markets at Regal and Abdullah Haroon Road kept their businesses open after 9pm and many of them, especially mobile phone sellers, closed their shops after 11pm.

In all the major markets like Tariq Road, Saddar, Bohri Bazar, Hyderi, etc., traders started pulling down their shutters after 9pm.

When Siddiq Memon, president of the Tariq Road Traders Action Committee, was contacted at 9.15pm, he said that traders had started closing their shops.

He said that Labour Department officials had arrived at Tariq Road at 8.20pm, forcing shopkeepers to close their businesses.

He added that traders informed them about the extension of business hours but the officials said that they had not received any notification. Siddiq said that Tariq Road faced power failures of six hours on Wednesday.

Senior Vice President of Saddar Alliance of Market Association, Abdul Samad Khan, who was outside somewhere, had no idea whether the markets were actually open or closed at 9pm sharp.

All the shops located inside the big regular markets completely violated the Sindh government’s order and continued to operate their business till 00.00 hours (midnight). This would likely happen again.

Chief Spokesman of the KESC, Sultan Hassan said that 80 MW saving from bazaar and shopping centre closures at 9pm will help curtail load-shedding in those areas which have been facing long duration of power failures.