KARACHI: Sales of Eid-related items significantly dropped from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday evening due to rain that caused heavy power breakdowns and submerged various roads in the city.

President All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Atiq Mir said that around 70 per cent of markets had to close down from Tuesday evening onwards due to heavy rains. He said sales decreased 70pc on Wednesday evening as people refrained from visiting the markets.

Mr Atiq said the last Ashra (a period of 10 days) of Ramazan, which is crucial for both traders and buyers, started off slow as temperatures soared and heavy rainfall inundated streets and caused power outages in the metropolis.

He said in the first 20 days of the holy month only 30pc of Eid-related items were sold. Traders, who have invested heavily, are now worried as customer arrivals depend on favourable weather conditions.

Night shopping would pick up substantially prior to Eid in case of no rain in the coming days, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2016