All commercial centers in Karachi will remain open today and the new notification would be implemented from next Saturday, said Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Shariq Vohra.
It was decided in a meeting of traders with Karachi Commissioner that all the shopping malls at Tariq Road, Saddar and other areas would continue their business today, Vohra added.
Karachi Tajir Ittehad chief Atiq Mir asked the shopkeepers and wholesalers on Friday to open their businesses on Saturday as the new notification of the Sindh government would create confusions.
He reacted to the Sindh government’s new policy for commercial activities amidst a nationwide ‘third wave’ of the coronavirus epidemic.
“Changing the market closure days repeatedly is creating too much confusion,” he said, addressing the provincial government.
The Sindh government had a day ago notified that markets will only be allowed to operate from sehri (dawn) to 6pm.
Commercial areas were further told to remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays — instead of Fridays and Sundays previously.
On Saturday, Mir demanded that markets should in fact be allowed to operate late in the night during Ramzan.
“Traders have spent billions on purchasing goods [in anticipation of demand] before Eid. Limiting market hours will only create problems for the common citizens,” he said.
