E-Paper | October 06, 2026

Closure causes Rs20bn trade loss

Aamir Shafaat Khan Published
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KARACHI: Trading and industrial activities remained paralysed on Friday due to a mourning day observed by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) over the killing of its four workers on Thursday.

Although petrol stations started opening by 5pm, most of markets and commercial centres failed to operate as there were few buyers and most of the shops remained closed. The markets wore a deserted look on Thursday evening as the MQM announced its plan for a protest.

According to Atiq Mir, chairman, All-Karachi Tajir Ittehad, overall loss stood at Rs15-20 billion owing to closure of markets and commercial centres from Thursday evening.

The closure of commercial activities usually causes trade loss of Rs3bn to 4bn, while another loss of Rs4 to 5bn is suffered on account of closure of customs clearance and shipping activities. Yet another loss of Rs7 to Rs8bn is suffered owing to loss production activities in industrial areas as well as exports.

The worst-hit were three million daily wagers in the city. The salaried people could not draw their salaries, and they have to wait till Monday for the opening of banks, he said.

Atiq Mir said there was a bit delay in the announcement regarding resumption of trading activities. As a result, many traders opted to stay at homes due to limited business hours.

Site Association of Industry President Younus M. Bashir estimated Rs4 to 5bn production loss in Site alone due to closure of more than 3,500 units where 500,000 permanent, contractual and daily wagers are employed.

FB Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI) chairman Sheikh Mohammad Tehseen said some 10-15pc of small to medium-sized units remained completely closed while units which remained open recorded only 25-30pc production activities due to thin attendance.

Former President of North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry Faraz Mirza claimed complete production halt in over 2,000 units in North Karachi.

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry’s former president Zubair Chahya claimed that majority of the units, out of 4,000, remained inoperative.

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Pakistan
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Aamir Shafaat Khan is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience. He covers trade and industry, with a particular focus on market surveys, food inflation, commodity prices, the automobile sector and broader industrial issues.

Aamir Shafaat Khan

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Hello Slaves
May 03, 2014 12:39pm
This is the legal terrorism that we the Karachities have been witnessing for ages. May Allah protect Us all. I do not know WHAT the rangers was doing when they forcibly closed everything.
Recommend 0
Masoud
May 03, 2014 01:21pm
The Sindh & Federal government is responsible for protecting the lives & properties of the peoples. Unless this is done we will continue to see such closers in the future as well. The government seems not interested to solve the on going killings in Karachi. Operations against terrorists for the last 6 months plus could not yield results, change in strategy to deal with the ever growing killings & related is required. Again the key word is "If the Sindh & Federal govt really interested to solve Karachi's problems"
Recommend 0
Bilal
May 03, 2014 01:27pm
MQM punishing its own voters when its workers get killed. Doesnt happen anywhere else in the world.
Recommend 0
Namaloom Karachites
May 03, 2014 02:20pm
Extra judicial killings are indeed condemnable.
Recommend 0
K
May 03, 2014 02:20pm
We can handle things here on own..
Recommend 0
TRUE KARACHI
May 03, 2014 02:30pm
@Bilal Yes , it is right . Place loss of nearly 20 bln per day strike.
Recommend 0
imran ali
May 03, 2014 02:55pm
what about those who were killed in custody...Dawn should also calculate the loss suffered by the family
Recommend 0
Shakil Khan
May 03, 2014 02:55pm
Only unique to MQM it can protest against its own government and have a own Governor for life! these strikes are only to show they still have terror power in Karachi so be warned!
Recommend 0
Ali S
May 03, 2014 04:05pm
This is exactly why MQM is on the verge of becoming history, I'd rather prefer that they block roads to protest than block people's income for a day - most Karachiites (me and my own family included) reluctantly vote for them simply because they're the only representatives of the Urdu speaking community, the moment other parties start fairly representing our community most of MQM's vote base would instantly jump ship without hesitation. Sadly, MQM's 'dear leader' has too much power concentrated in his hands and he's been living in a mansion in London for the past 22 years, so he probably cannot relate how much his party's strikes affect Karachiites. For him it's just a matter of giving an order to assert his authority.
Recommend 0
Man from UNCLE
May 03, 2014 06:43pm
May Allah Protect Zardari, Billawal, Nawaz and their entire family.
Recommend 0
Man from UNCLE
May 03, 2014 06:44pm
Worry not my friends. One Billion $ will be in our nations account soon.
Recommend 0
Ranger
May 03, 2014 07:15pm
@Hello Slaves Question is why Rangers - who are charging Sindh govt. multi billion rupee every year - is failing so badly. Why those people were killed, some heads should turn on the innocent killing all across Karachi, in fact Sindh. These Rangers have failed to stop mafias from Lyari and are scarred to enter that area.
Recommend 0
Ranger
May 03, 2014 07:18pm
@Shakil Khan Governer has not killed the people. Just wait till 11th, when Islamabad will be shut down. Then who will be responsible for that? Oh! I guess it will be the democratic right of 'other' parties. It seems we are more concerned about lost revenue, which is important, but care less about tragic loss of life.
Recommend 0
Sayyid
May 03, 2014 08:20pm
First time in history... Government protesting their own self....MQM is in Government along with federal representation Governor Sindh. Rangers are doing great job to eliminate the Karachi mess. Keep it up Pak Rangers!!!!!!! We karachites are with you!
Recommend 0
Naeem Syed
May 03, 2014 08:58pm
What were these workers up to when they were arrested? Life is so precious the each and every death is to be mourned, but this is not they way. MQM has virtually destroyed the City of Karachi with this type of Blackmail. They shut down the City when they feel like it, I call this Domestic Terrorism. They should protest the death of their workers but through the Courts. They are a Part of the Government take it up there don't punish the City. MQM is the originator and instigator of this Target Killing phenomena that we see in Karachi. WHAT YOU SOW YOU SHALL REAP. How true.
Recommend 0
usman786
May 03, 2014 09:26pm
pl ask HRCP and other NGOs to file complaint for damages to UK govt
Recommend 0
Ahmed
May 03, 2014 10:52pm
The easiest way to eliminate these closures is that Government should ban ban ban the calling of various shutter down or closures Hartaals and apprehend the person or authority calling so. We all need a hard stick.
Recommend 0
vistro
May 03, 2014 11:12pm
@imran ali so this is the justification you are providing for the forceful closure of the city. Forcing the daily wagers to return home penniless.
Recommend 0
Harmony
May 04, 2014 12:11am
Yeah, ruin the economy, punish your own people by depriving them of their livelihood
Recommend 0
tankNZ
May 04, 2014 08:10am
I agree, it's not very good.
Recommend 0
Tahir
May 04, 2014 08:49am
How is Rs20 bn worked out? Population of Karachi is 20 million. So it means on average, a transaction of Rs 1000 per person takes place in the city every day. That's kind of steep.
Recommend 0
Harmony
May 04, 2014 03:52pm
@Tahir - Multi national companies and importers/exporters do transactions in millions a day whereas you or someone else may not have done a single transaction in a day. So, it averages out. All governments have economic statistics.
Recommend 0
ali
May 05, 2014 10:10pm
keep voting for MQM until there is nothing left.
Recommend 0
JK
May 06, 2014 09:14pm
Why not sue for damages for people calling all these strikes?
Recommend 0

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