KARACHI, June 14: The bomb blast in front of US Consulate raised serious concerns among the foreigners as well as local businessmen.

In an immediate response, already shied foreign buyers have started postponing their plans to visit Karachi in the near future, confirmed local businessmen after the blast.

Furthermore, leading hotels have also started receiving calls for cancellation of events and functions, being organized by the multinational companies at least for the one week.

Chairman Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA), Shabbir Ahmed told Dawn that he received an e-mail from his German buyer soon after the blast, who excused from visiting the port city.

“I will not come to Karachi until it becomes safe for at least two months,” the e-mail of German buyer said.

Shabbir said that foreign buyers usually visit after two to three months to either place new orders or to check quality of the exportable goods.

He said that such unfortunate incidents will further demoralize foreign investors who were already reluctant to visit Pakistan. He said this will lead to further deterioration of business environment.

In another development, consumer product giant, Lever Brothers Pakistan Limited (LBPL) has postponed its press conference on its financial performance, scheduled to be held on June 17, due to “unavoidable circumstances,” a press release said on Friday.

The chairman, Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA), Fawad Ijaz Khan said the trade and economy, after receiving setbacks from September 11 incidents, had started recovering, but the May 8 bomb blast involving French national and the Friday’s incident had further cast gloomy shadows over country’s economic future.

In a statement, he said this act of terrorism is aimed at destabilizing Pakistan’s economy and disrupting the cordial relation between Pakistan and the US.

Fawad urged the government to ensure security to life and property of the foreigners as well as local citizens. The government should also undertake concrete measures to prevent such anti-national acts in future, he said.