City traders vow to defy Sindh govt's business timing restriction from today.

KARACHI -- All the trade-related associations of the city have decided to defy Sindh government's restrictions regarding opening of markets and shops beyond 6pm and announced that they would open all their businesses till 8pm from Saturday (today).

The decision to open businesses till 8pm is considered as a sign of protest against the Sindh government which had set 6pm as closure time for all markets, shopping malls, etc, as part of fresh curbs to stop the spread of Covid-19 cases.

Representatives of the Karachi Tajir Action Committee (KTAC) - Sharjeel Gopalani, Atiq Mir, Jamil Paracha, Mohammad Rizwan Irfan, Hakim Shah, Waqas Azeem and Rana Raees - announced the decision in an emergency meeting after the expiry of their 72-hour ultimatum to the Sindh government.

The traders' representatives blamed the Sindh government for its 'non-serious attitude' saying no government official had contacted them after they gave the 72-hour deadline on June 1.

Besides, they said, the Sindh government did not pay any heed towards the nine demands of trade bodies.

Say markets, shops to remain open till 8pm instead of 6pm

They warned that the city traders would hold protest on roads in case police tried to harass them or seal their markets.

All City Tajir Ittehad Association (ACTIA) president Sharjeel Gopalani said all the trade bodies of the city had come on the same page against the Sindh government's 'anti-business decisions'.

Last month, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had ordered the district administration and police to ensure strict implementation of 5am to 6pm business timings for all markets...