KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday came up with a set of measures to conserve energy including the closure of business centres and shops by 9pm that was rejected by traders who vowed to resist the order citing that it would hit Eid shopping and force people to visit markets during the day in the current heatwave.

The decision was reached at a meeting, which was chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and attended by heads of different departments concerned and senior officials.

According to a statement issued following the meeting, the Sindh energy department directed the departments concerned for immediate implementation of energy conservation measures, which included closure of businesses by 9pm.

“The energy department has issued instructions on the directives of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah,” said the statement.

“The divisional and district administrations shall ensure the closure of shops at 9pm and marriage halls and restaurants at 11pm. The Rangers and district police shall provide full assistance to district administrations.”

The traders strongly reacted to the move calling it a cosmetic measure. They said the authorities were barely interested in capacity building of the power supply companies and addressing mismanagement at their end.

The business leaders also questioned the ‘intellect level of the decision makers’ who were behind the move that would compel people to visit markets before sunset against the advice of health experts that direct exposure to the sun be avoided.

“This is not the first time that we have learned about such an impractical decision by the government,” said Ateeq Meer, chairman of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad — a common platform for nearly 300 market and traders’ associations.

He said: “Practically, such measures have not been able to save even 50MW. Till Ramazan 10, markets remain mostly closed even during the day. The business gains momentum after Ramazan 11 when the markets are open till late night.”

He said the government should have allowed business after sunset asking traders to keep markets closed during daytime only till Ramazan 10.

“It could save energy and provide people opportunity to do Eid shopping after sunset comparatively in better hours of the day,” said Mr Meer. “The traders — from a common retailer to a major importer — have invested more than Rs70 billion for this Ramazan shopping and the government is ruining all their prospects by such illogical measures. We would not accept this plan and they [the Sindh government] should withdraw it or otherwise we would resist any such move.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2015

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