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Traders, transporters fearing financial crunch - LahoreEstate - 03-02-2009 08:51 AM
After having suffered financial losses due to continued protests after collapse of the PML-N government in Punjab, the traders and transporters in the twin cities feared more financial crunch in the coming weeks keeping in view the PML-N protest movement and ‘long march’ by the legal fraternity.
Tariq Muneer, a wholesale dealer in Saddar Market said, “I think the things would get worse from bad for the business community in the coming days due to continued PML-N protest movement and upcoming ‘long march’ for restoration of judiciary.”
The intensity of protests after disqualification of both Shahbaz Sharif and Main Nawaz Sharif was quite high in Rawalpindi, as compared to other cities even Lahore that is regarded as one of the strongholds of PML-N.
A slight improvement in the law and order situation prompted traders to open their businesses on Sunday, but number of visitors were too low against their expectations.
“We opened our shops after a gap of three days, but it seemed that shoppers are reluctant to come out of their houses due to uncertain situation on main arteries of the city,” said Abid Hussain, a shopkeeper at Commercial Market.
Many of the main business areas in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were open on the weekend, but shopkeepers were seen sitting idle, waiting for visitors, who showed no interest in any kind of shopping.
Meanwhile, the local transporters demanded of the political parties to show restraint and avoid agitation not only to enable them earn their livelihood, but also help facilitate thousands of commuters who have been facing extreme difficulties while travelling between the twin cities.
Wagons and Mini-buses Association President Malik Muhammad Sultan told ‘The News’ that they wanted peaceful environment because the transporters often hesitate to put their vehicles on roads if there are violent protests in the city.
He said there are some 1,800 public transport vehicles plying in the twin cities and thousands of people are affiliated with this profession who entirely depend upon it for their livelihood.
A group of wagon drivers while talking to ‘The News’ said all of them have their affiliation with various political parties, but when it comes to their livelihood they could not afford politics.
They urged the workers of the political parties to avoid burning vehicles or destroying public property as democratic norms and traditions did not allow such practices.
They said if the government has done some wrong with PML-N then passengers and wagon drivers are not responsible for it and they should not be punished for government’s decisions.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=165202