KARACHI, April 28: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday held a meeting with business community to discuss closure of shops at 8pm in the light of the National Energy Conference’s recommendations.

The participants suggested that keeping in mind Karachi’s economic importance and current crisis, any time for early closure be announced in the light of ground realities explained. It was decided that the 08:30pm would be considered as closure time, but no shop would be allowed to remain open after 09:00pm.

Siraj Kassam Teli suggested that a committee comprising representatives of business community would be constituted to ensure the implementation of decision and requested the chief minister to also ensure that no representative of the administration needlessly harasses the traders since the business community was willing to take the responsibility of implementation of the announcement.

It was further decided that any complaint about any harassment will be communicated to the competent authority.

Sindh Minister for Power Ms Shazia Atta suggested that the implementation committee would be approached if there was any complaint regarding non-implementation of decision.

During the meeting, the businessmen also raised the issue of KESC and registered problems about notices issued by the power utility to cottage industries on the pretext of load.

The chief minister ensured that he would take necessary steps to address this issue.

In today’s meeting the businessmen stressed upon Rangers vigilant along with the police. “This issue is not political and we must work together to resolve the energy crisis,” said Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The chief minister along with the power minister, Rashid Rabbani and Zubair Motiwala had detailed discussion with representatives of business community.