June 02, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1429

KARACHI, June 1: Leaders of the Karachi Transport Action Committee and the Anjuman Ittehad Bus Malikan on Sunday condemned the government’s decision on early closure of markets, saying that the practice would not only affect business of shopkeepers but also of transporters.

Mohammad Ashraf Banglori, Chaudray Mazhar Hussain, Lala Sultan and other leaders of the action committee said in joint statement that the number of passengers using public transport would be decline sharply due to the early closure of markets and bazaars and this would badly affect the business of transporters.

They apprehended that that citizen would eventually face shortage of public transport on roads as transporters would have to curtail the number of their vehicles to be operated in night hours to avoid losses.

They criticised government for not consulting all stakeholders before taking the decision, and said that keeping shops and markets open late into the night was essential for the city’s hustle and bustle, returned after many years of panic, fear and violence. This was also necessary to peace in the city and prosperity of the province, they added.They urged the government to curb power theft by eliminating the “Kunda” system and take stern action against the corrupt KESC officials to overcome the power crisis.—PPI