News
Monday, April 26, 2010
Shops closure at 8pm economic murder: traders
ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the government’s decision to close markets at 8pm under its plans to conserve energy in the country, Traders Action Committee (TAC) representative on Sunday said the implementation of the decision was only possible if the government set 10pm time to close the shops and provide uninterrupted power supply from 5pm to 10pm.
Addressing media persons at National Press Club (NPC), TAC Organising Secretary Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry said a majority of Islamabad’s residents were government employees and they shop after 8pm. “The hours after 8pm were peak time for shopping and business and we cannot afford to close shops at 8pm,” he said.
Chaudhry said traders were aware of the power crisis and playing their role to overcome it. “We have switched off three-fourth of the lights in markets and neon-signs to conserve energy,” he said, adding, the traders have assured the government that they would try their best to assist the government in its plans, if the deadline is extended to 10pm. Chaudhry said if government tried to enforce closure of shops at 8pm without negotiating with traders, it would be an economic murder. “In such case, TAC would resist and launch a protest movement against the government,” he said. He said the government should increase power generation instead of forcing traders to shut down their businesses early. “If government really means to save energy, it must ensure implementation of its orders from the PM House, Presidency and parliamentarians’ houses,” the TAC secretary said, adding, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf must act seriously and not make false promises. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk