Karachi Traders Announce Shutdown, Food Supplies to Be Suspended

KARACHI: The Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association has announced a complete shutdown of wholesale markets on Wednesday in protest against what it described as action by the city administration against shopkeepers. The association said supplies of essential food items from Karachi’s largest wholesale market would remain suspended across the country during the protest.

Association chairman Abdul Rauf Ibrahim said Jodia Bazaar, Lea Market, Dandia Bazaar and wholesale markets in Nanak Wara, Landhi, Malir, Korangi and Liaquatabad would remain closed.

The shutdown was announced following government action against retailers over flour prices. Ibrahim alleged that shopkeepers were being arrested, fined and their businesses sealed.

He claimed several wholesale shops remained sealed, while traders were being fined between Rs50,000 and Rs150,000 without receiving written notices or official receipts.

The association chairman further alleged that officials were asking traders to transfer payments to an Easypaisa account instead of issuing formal challans.

Ibrahim said flour mill owners were responsible for higher flour prices and questioned why action was not being taken against them. He claimed expensive flour was being supplied directly by the mills.

The association called on the administration to end action against shopkeepers and take measures against flour mills charging higher prices.

It said the suspension of supplies would continue until action against traders ended and sealed shops were allowed to reopen.

Source: ARY News