Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) called a meeting of various markets representatives of Islamabad to develop a consensus for the closure of markets in light of the announcement of government’s energy saving measures.

Though majority of traders was in favor of closing markets at 10:00 p.m. however, Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that energy crisis is a national issue and business community should cooperate with the government in this hour of need.

He appealed to the government to allow closure of markets in Islamabad at 9:00 p.m. so that businesses may not suffer. He also requested the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply during peak business house i.e. from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Zahid Maqbool said that markets grids should not be shut down abruptly because residents of surrounding areas suffer a great deal due to this sudden shutdown of electricity. He further said that before taking action against any trader, local administration should first consult the President of the concerned market association.

Munawar Mughal, Chairman ICCI Founder Group said that Islamabad is a city of federal employees and diplomats who normally do shopping after office hours. So, closing markets at 8:00 p.m. will create problems for them. Therefore, government should take these facts into consideration and extend market closure timing by one hour.

Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman ICCI Sub Committee on Tourism and President of Traders Welfare Association, who conducted the meeting, stressed that local administration should close all restaurants and other commercial activities in the residential areas in Islamabad as such activities hurt the business interests of genuine businessmen.

Karim Aziz Malik & Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Vice Presidents ICCI and Ajmal Baloch, Organizing Secretary, Traders Action Committee also addressed the meeting and asked traders to support the government in overcoming energy crisis so that the country could be steered out of difficult conditions.