Timings of markets and bazaars

These days a strange trend is being followed in Karachi as far as the opening and closing of markets and shops is concerned. Half the day passes and there are still no signs of any market or bazaar opening. Similarly, at night too, many of the markets and shopping malls remain open as late as 11PM. And on Fridays, these shopkeepers and traders go beyond bounds and start their business at 3PM after offering the Juma prayers.

This is a very abnormal routine and is practiced only in this city. The fact which surprises me the most is that why do these shopkeepers waste half of the day and then open their shops? Why don’t they start their work early? What do they keep waiting for?

Like all other institutions, the trading community should also begin its work in the morning, but surprisingly, their day starts in the afternoon. When many people, like school children, are done with their day’s work and are returning home. At this time, these shopkeepers leave their homes and come to work. This act of our businessmen is totally incomprehensible and it causes great inconvenience to many of those customers who want to do their shopping during the morning but they have to wait all day long before going to the marketplace because even if they go to the bazaar early, all they would find there would be shuttered shops and deserted streets.

The ongoing electricity crisis which our country is facing is a fact known to everyone and in such circumstances it is the moral responsibility of every citizen to play their part and do what they can to conserve electricity, but what these shopkeepers and traders are doing is just the opposite. They waste the entire morning which is the prime time for work, they commence their business after half the day has gone and then they keep up working till late night. In this way, not only are they unable to save any electricity, but, in fact, they waste it because the more they work after sunset, the more electricity they require.

On the other hand, if they start their business at the proper time ie, at 9AM in the morning and close it latest by 8PM, then they would not only save electricity but would also be able to get benefitted from solar energy during the day time, which is very abundant, and hence there would be no need to use excessive electrical energy.

Although, such a step was taken some time back and it was decided by the Chamber of Commerce and trade unions that all traders and shopkeepers would open their shops at 10AM in the morning and close them by 8PM, due to the power crisis, the decision was never implemented and the situation is only worsening day by day.

I would request all the members of the business and commerce community to please end this daily wastage of time and do your work in the way it should be done. The government alone cannot be held responsible for all the problems and crises.

We, on our part, should also show some cooperation and concern for the challenges faced by this country, because it is our country and we cannot turn our face away from its problems due to our selfishness and indifference. Our businessmen and traders must realise that 1PM in the afternoon is no time to start their work and 11PM in the night, no time to finish it.

MADIHA VIQUAR

Karachi