ISLAMABAD: Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT), has voiced strong opposition to the government’s recent decision to implement early market closures, asserting that traders nationwide will refuse to shut their shops before 10pm.
Baloch urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the decision, warning that forcing markets to close early would pose significant challenges for the business community. He described the plan to shut shops at 8pm as “untenable” and impractical.
He argued that traders are already paying high electricity rates during the peak hours of 6pm to 10pm, and eliminating business hours during this period would add to their financial burdens. Baloch emphasized the crucial role traders play in supporting Pakistan’s energy sector and overall economic stability.
The trader leader also noted that while the governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are open to discussing traders’ concerns, he called on the federal government and other provincial administrations in Punjab and Balochistan to revoke the early closure policy.
Baloch expressed concerns that limited business hours would lead to overcrowding, making customer management difficult. He stressed that austerity measures should not be implemented through shutting down businesses but rather through reducing unnecessary government perks and promoting simplicity.
Highlighting the ongoing economic fragility, he pointed out that major state institutions like Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines, and Pakistan Railways are already incurring billions in losses.
He called upon the ministers of commerce and energy to engage in immediate dialogue with traders, emphasizing that constructive communication is essential. “If countries like the US and Iran can mediate and resolve issues, why can’t the government talk directly to traders?” he questioned.
Baloch warned that strict enforcement of early closures could trigger widespread protests across the country.
