As Lyari war rages on, traders claim losing Rs 10bn

The crises-hit traders of Karachi are paying through their nose for the ongoing operation in Lyari that has forced the closure of the city’s markets in the old areas, depriving thousands of Lyari-based labourers of their livelihoods.
Trading activities have been badly affected since the operation against criminals started in the Lyari Town with the businessmen claiming losses worth over Rs 10 billion during the last eights days.
According to All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) Chairman Atiq Mir, besides the sufferings of the residents of the violence-hit area, the traders and labourers are also facing the brunt of the operation, as it has severely disrupted the business activities in the several busiest markets of the city.
The affected people and criminals in the area are also targeting the shops and business outlets to protest the government-led operation.
Thousands of labourers, mostly the residents of the affected area, have been also forced to stay inside their houses amidst the fear of firing and clashes in the streets.
The environment of fear and uncertainty in other markets and shopping centres of the city have also been paralysed, thus adding to the woes of small traders who were already facing the threats of extortion, targeted killings and kidnapping for ransom among other criminal activities.
“Hardly 10 to 15 percent trade activities are going on in the city,” Mir said. “The government should first consider the business activities in the city before launching any operations or moves against the criminals.”
According to the market sources, the retailers of the city have not been turning up at the wholesale market fearing the reaction of the operation.
Retailers usually lift items from the wholesale market in the last week of every month to keep stocks ready for sale before the start of new month. The sale of edible items has been slow in the past week owing to thin number of buyers. During the last couple of days, the market has hardly recorded 15 percent sales of grocery items.
Mir also condemned the recent attacks on some shops of the old city markets by the protesting residents of Lyari.
Traders in Dandia and Jodia bazaars, the main wholesale grocery markets, had pulled down shutters after the deteriorating law and order situation on Friday. Dandia Bazaar remained closed over a protest by traders following arrest of a businessman by law enforcers.
The AKTI chairman told Pakistan Today that the traders are worried over the situation as in the absence of police, people are feeling insecure at the markets.
Most of the police personnel of the city have been deployed in Lyari due to the intense operation against criminal elements in the area.