MARDAN: The local traders have demanded of the government to relax lockdown for at least two days before Eidul Fitr and provide relief to them in utility bills and taxes.

The demand was made at a joint press conference of representatives of different trader unions here on Tuesday. Trader leaders Maazullah Khan, Mohammad Islam, Numan Faqir Saraf and others addressed the press conference.

They said that they were cooperating with the government in its fight against Covid-19. They said that they were following standard operating procedure (SOPs) to help the relevant officials in containing spread of the virus.

However, they said that government was not providing any relief to traders as they were suffering huge financial losses owing to closure of their businesses for a long time.

The traders said that their businesses were on the verge of collapse. They alleged that imposition of lockdown ruined their business. They also condemned sealing of hops and shopkeepers by the district administration.

On the occasion, some of the traders said that they had sold ornaments of their wives to run their kitchens. They said that they were unable to pay rents of their shops.

They demanded of the government to compensate them and provide relief to them in utility bills, income taxes, professional taxes and other business-related taxes.

The traders urged the government to allow them to open their shops for at least two consecutive days before Eid to reduce their financial woes.

Numan Faqir Saraf, a representative of jewellers, said on the occasion that a jewellery shop was looted in broad daylight few days ago as the market was empty owing to lockdown. He said that they registered FIR but no recovery and arrest were made so far.

He demanded of the quarters concerned to provide security to them and also to allow them to open their shops for business as precious and valuable items were lying in their shops that could be looted by robbers.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2021