Karachi Traders Union, Traders Action Committee and Marriage Hall Association on Friday rejected the Sindh government’s time restrictions for Karachi’s businesses and marriage halls.
Atiq Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Traders Union, said that the Karachi business community rejects the decisions of the Sindh Task Force, adding that the repeated decision to shorten business timings in the city has been even more deadly than the pandemic itself.
He said that the closure of markets at 6 pm would result in heavy traffic jams and the restrictions on wedding halls, hotels and restaurants would lead to starvation of daily wage workers.
Atiq Mir demanded that the Sindh government take practical and beneficial steps through review and consultation on decisions.
Muhammad Rizwan, the convener of the Traders Action Committee, said that the Traders Action Committee has called an emergency meeting on Saturday to review the decision of the Sindh Task Force.
He said that the traders’ action committee rejects the decision as it has been taken without any consultation with them. He said that Karachi’s traders have made many sacrifices and the federal and provincial governments should now refund their taxes to make up for the losses they have been dealt in the past year.
Rana Raees Ahmed, President of All Karachi Marriage Hall Association, also expressed displeasure over the Sindh government’s decision and announced protests across the country.
While addressing a press conference, he said that all the marriage halls are abiding by SOPs issued by the Sindh government.
“We strongly condemn this decision. We have convened a meeting of our association,” he said, adding that the emergency meeting will work out a plan of action against the newly imposed restrictions.
Rana Raees said the association will stage protest demonstrations in Karachi in the first phase and threatened that they would expand the scope of their protest.
The government has decided to close educational institutions, hotels, and wedding halls, while shopping malls and markets will open from 6 am to 6 pm.
