KARACHI, July 7: A large number of traders and shopkeepers, falling under various organisations and groups, have been violating the government’s order of closing their shops by 9.00pm.

A random market survey reveals that mobile phone shops at Abdullah Haroon Road remain open after 9.00pm and many shops usually pull their shutters down after 10.00pm. Even after 10.30pm some mobile phone shopkeepers, located inside the market, are seen operating their business without using generators.

The Sindh government had allowed the shopkeepers to use generators if they wanted to continue their business after 9.00pm. Besides, there was an understanding between the government and the traders that shopkeepers would curtail the power load by 50pc during 8.00am to 9.00pm but these two pledges had yet to be materialised.

In Saddar area like Bohri Bazar, shop-owners adopt a lethargic attitude in closing their shops and even at 10.00pm many shops are seen packing up their materials while others keep operating their business after 10.00pm. Same situation exists in other markets like Water Pump, Hyderi, Karimabad etc., where shopkeepers especially inside the markets pull their shutters down after 9.00pm.

When the government had issued orders for shop closure by 8.00pm two weeks back, majority of traders had started closure of shops by 9.00pm. Again after extension in timing to 9.00pm they are least punctual in packing up their business by the official time and usually leave the shops between 9.30-10.00pm.

In a meeting held between Chief Minister Dr Ghulam Arbab Rahim and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and other market representatives on June 22 it was decided that the KCCI would nominate a committee in each market to keep a watch that no shopkeeper used excessive electricity.

It was also decided that the KCCI would provide to the government and the KESC the list of such markets which had their own electricity generation sets and these markets would be permitted to remain open even after 9.00pm subject to the condition that the KESC’s power would not be used.

KCCI President Haroon Faruki in his statement on June 27 had said that if the shopkeepers or market associations found using KESC electricity after 9.00pm they would be penalised.

The local authorities have also been tight lipped whether the traders’ body and the KCCI had really fulfilled their promises.

“So far nothing has been done. Neither a committee has been formed nor has a list of markets and shopkeepers has been prepared,” Alliance of Market Association Chairman Atiq Mir claimed while talking to Dawn on Friday.

However, he tried to defend the violation by the traders saying that traders thought that they were suffering more power outages throughout the day currently as compared to two weeks back so it was fair to keep their shops opened after 9.00pm.

“Around 60pc of the markets are now facing worst power crisis in the afternoons and evenings. Situation has become worse after the meeting with the chief minister instead of any improvement,” he lamented.

It seems that the KESC has been trying to sabotage the fruitful outcome of the June 22 meeting by resorting to heavy loadshedding in day times, he said, blaming the KESC for creating a fuss in the market by forcing the Sindh government to resort to early shop closure practices.

KCCI president Haroon Faruki, however, did not agree that majority of shopkeepers were violating the decision of shop closure by 9.00pm.

“If we talk about the main markets as a whole then they are being closed by 9.00pm and if some shops take some time in closure then it is not a violation. If the majority shopkeepers of any market keep open their shops then it is called violation,” he added.

He asked the shopkeepers to use generators if they wanted to keep their business after the official time.