Karachi, Pakistan – The Karachi trader community has suffered a significant loss of over Rs 3.5 billion due to the city-wide closure on the occasion of Iranian President Dr. Ibrahim Raisi’s visit. The one-day closure resulted in a massive economic setback for the business community, with traders expressing severe disappointment over the government’s decision.
According to Jameel Paracha, Chairman of the Sindh Trade Union, the local administration’s decision to block all major roads in the city caused severe difficulties for people to move around, resulting in a collective loss of over Rs 3.5 billion to the business community.
“The government’s decision to block roads and shut down businesses has caused immense financial damage to us. We request the government to exclude us from such plans in the future,” Paracha said.
The city-wide closure affected all major commercial centers, including the Electronics Market, Jodia Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, and Cloth Market, with most shops remaining closed. However, hotels and restaurants remained open, but business was nominal.
The Sindh government had announced a public holiday on Tuesday to avoid any difficulties for the public during the Iranian President’s visit. However, the move has been widely criticized by the trader community, who claim that it has caused unnecessary financial hardship.
