KARACHI: A shutter-down strike was observed across the metropolis on the call of traders in connection with the global strike call given by Hamas to show solidarity with Palestinians and denounce the genocide by Israel.

Almost all major markets were closed in Saddar, old city areas, Tariq Road, Clifton, and other areas.

A visit to the major markets in Saddar showed that a few shops were open, while major markets were closed. Outside some shops, only guards were seen, while the commercial centres were closed.

Sharjeel Goplani, head of the All City Tajir Ittehad Association, an organisation representing hundreds of markets in the metropolis, told Dawn that the traders received calls from leaders of religious parties on Sunday night. Hamas had given a global strike call against the genocide of Palestinians, at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was scheduled to visit and meet with US President Donald Trump, he added.

He added that several traders’ associations also held a demonstration at the electronic markets in Saddar, where representatives of the associations decided to collect donations to support their Muslim brethren in Palestine.

Mohammed Rizwan Irfan, president of the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association, said that they had decided to boycott Israeli products and products of Zionist companies as a protest against the “barbarism and cruelty against Palestinians.” They wanted to record their protest against the genocide of Palestinians and show the world that they would not remain silent over such tyranny, he added.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir told Dawn that the traders and shopkeepers had voluntarily announced the closure of their businesses. He said there were an estimated 3000 small and large markets in the city. Over 600 major markets dealing with clothes, jewellery, machinery, etc were closed. However, vegetable and meat markets, particularly on the outskirts, remained open.

Mr Mir said Karachi was the only city in the country where such a strike was observed to show solidarity with the Palestinians while protest rallies were also held by the traders. He said the traders also urged the government of Pakistan to take effective action at international forums to protest the killings of children and women by Israel as it violated international humanitarian laws and principles of warfare.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2025