HYDERABAD, May 8: More than 40 unions of traders on Tuesday rejected the government's directive to close shops at 8 pm and resolved to follow their colleagues in Karachi.

They also decided to resist any action the government might take to force closure of business after 8 pm.

Shops in the main commercial and business establishments of the city remained open on Monday and Tuesday and the shopkeepers did not appear ready to close their businesses at 8 pm.

Traders belonging to different unions and organisations who held a joint meeting on Monday night at the Dubai Centre decided not to close shops at 8 pm and closely watch how the Karachi traders and shopkeepers were reacting to government's directive, said a spokesman for the traders unions, Ikramuddin.

"We have unanimously decided that any attempt by the administration to force closure of businesses or shops will be resisted," he said.

He said that about 40 to 50 office-bearers of unions of auto parts dealers, motorcycles, bi-cycles, Resham Gali, Sarrafa and Jewellers group, Al-Raheem shopping centre and glass bangles etc urged Wapda and Hesco authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply to bazaars during the day.

The meeting formed a nine-member committee comprising Haji Fazalur Rehman, Shakeel Mughal, Yusuf Memon, Ikramuddin, Haji Aslam, Fayyaz Awan, Rashol Bux Sheikh, Hameed Memon and Saleem Vohra to hold talks with the administration on the closure of markets and shops.

The shopkeepers who were not associated with any union were also reluctant to close their shops on grounds that they were already facing load-shedding which had forced them to incur additional expenses.

"Why should we close our shops at 8 pm when we remain without power supply for several hours of the day. On the one hand we are incurring fuel expenses for using generators and on the other we are being asked to close the shops at 8 pm which are peak business hours," argued Ashfaq Qureshi who had a shop at Tilak Incline.

Business activities in Saddar area, Resham Gali, Tilak Incline, district council and Cantonment shopping centres and plazas continued beyond 10.30 pm on Monday.

"The problem of load-sharing basically pertains to Karachi where it has hit hard. A circular has been distributed by one of our shopkeepers undertaking that they would keep their shops open between 10 am and 8pm," said Hafeezur Rehman Sheikh, who deals in jewellery in Saddar area.