8pm-Shutter Down - frustrating buyers and sellers alike

8pm-Shutter Down - frustrating buyers and sellers alike
By:Aftab Alam
(Published in ‘The News’ on 29-06-2010 --you can view this on
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=247851
“We have won democracy after a prolonged struggle against dictatorship. It is time for the government to give us relief rather than imposing dictatorial decisions, such as this, costing 80% loss to my business” , says Izhar Khan of ‘Fashion Affairs’ who has been running this shop for the last 20 years in Abpara Market Islamabad, expressing his deep grudges against the decision to close markets at 8pm.

Government had earlier announced a comprehensive plan to overcome the energy crisis on April 22, 2010 and closure of businesses at 8:00 pm was among other decisions. Traders of Islamabad defied the government’s decision after which the government started shutting down the supply of electricity to the markets at 8pm., forcing small traders who didn’t afford to buy a generator or UPS to shutter their shops down near 8pm.

Raja Hassan, who was sitting perturbed soon after the lights were out at 8pm in Abpara Market said, “ Market do not observe complete closure at 8pm and those who can afford the generators or UPS remain open. I wait sitting idle till 10pm and then restart my business. It has cost me more than 50% loss.”

M.Qayyum said, “. No other government has ever taken such a cruel decision during my 30 years business life in the market. The closing time should be 10 rather than 8pm.”

Waseem Ahmad, at Ilmi Book Centre Abpara, said, “We are suffering10-15 % loss due to load-shedding at 8pm, what problem the government has when we are using our own generators to cater for the energy needs of the shop?”

Not conforming to the majority, M.Tariq at Modern Bakers appreciated it saying it is a landmark decision to inculcate discipline in our Nation.”


On the other hand the shoppers also feel a rush of blood when the closure time approaches and a panic can be seen on their faces.

A lady in her 70s named Ruqqyya Bibi at Super Market criticized saying “I have been residing in the capital for the last 43 Years, I still remember the golden days of Ayub Khan when everything was cheap. We have to die one day but this government has given us untimely death in the form of price-hike, load-shedding and closure of markets to destroy the business community.”

“It is too hot to shop during the day, “said Mussarat Tanweer, at Super Market as she rushed towards a closing shop to buy something.

Another shopper at Abpara Market named Saima Yaqoob , resident of G-6 Sector, said, “I am a teacher in the evening shift at a local school and return home round 7:30; my husband comes back from office in the evening. How can I buy the grocery items and other things of necessity? I don’t know what sin we have committed for which we have to pay the price!”