Heavy rain’s that persisted for three days not only paralysed life in Karachi, the country’s financial hub, but has also resulted in losses to trade worth Rs10 billion.
The traders also faced damage to goods worth Rs500 million which were damaged under the standing rain water that could not be drained out despite tall claims of the city government, traders told Pakistan Today. The heavy and torrential rain received on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday caused heavy losses to the traders, industrialists and businessmen as the markets, commercial centers and industries remained almost closed during the heavy downpour.
The city life came to a standstill during the entire day on Tuesday after the heavy rains flooded the main roads and streets where the standing water kept the transporters and commuters out of the city arteries. The workers and employees of government and private organisation also could not attend their offices. Talking to Pakistan Today, Atiq Mir, Chairman All Karachi Tajir Itehad, said due to the prolonged and heavy rains coupled with standing water for days, goods in almost 5000 shops in the low-lying markets of Karachi were badly affected as rain water entered into these shops damaging valuables.
Goods including wheat, paper, books, cloths, machinery parts, electric items, furniture, food and many others were destroyed in shops, warehouses and factories of the city. The markets in Old City Area, Urdu Bazaar, Garden, Saddar, Liaqatabad, Defence, Clifton, Nursery Furniture Market, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, and M.A Jinnah Road were badly affected by the long spell rains.
The city vegetable wholesale market ‘Sabzi Mandi’ also remained completely closed on Tuesday causing severe shortage of fruit and vegetable in the city. The retailers of vegetable and fruit also charged the crisis hit people with enhanced prices of the available stock of kitchen items.
Saleem, a retailer in Gulistan-e-Johar said that no supply of goods were being made on Tuesday from the wholesale market as the rain water accumulated at the main entrance and inside Subzi Mandi suspended the whole supply system.
According to Atiq Mir, the recent losses have multiplied the miseries of small traders who have already gone through heavy losses during the Holy month of Ramadan when the city life was disturbed by the deteriorated law and order situation.
He also expressed serious concern over the failure of the city government to drain down the standing rainwater despite the heavy investment on infrastructure development of sewerage system and tall claims of the City District Government Karachi.
