Traders suffer losses in Kohat flea market fire.

KOHAT -- Scores of shop owners in flea market of Kotal Plaza here on Thursday appealed to the government to pay them compensation for their millions worth of goods burnt down in a blaze that erupted on the second day of Eid (Tuesday) so they could renovate shops and restart their businesses.

A huge blaze engulfed the whole flea market causing losses of over Rs20 million, according to the Afghan refugee shopkeepers. The city police said in a report that front shops and several warehouses inside were gutted as reported by the shopkeepers.

MPA Ziaullah Bangash along with Kohat city mayor Qari Sher Zaman visited the area and assured the affected traders of financial help.

President of the market Mr Murtaza said they had recently bought stocks of second-hand and new items, including Chinese blankets, curtains, footwear, polyester blankets, pillows, curtains, bed sheets, garments, etc. He said each shop had items worth Rs1 million to Rs1.5 million, adding they had been rendered bankrupt.

Mohammad Sami, who worked in a shop, believed the fire was caused by an electric short-circuit when the market was open. He said within seconds all items...