They said that since Interior Minister Rehman Malik had termed the city's security at "risk" before first Muharram, panic is still there in the city, keeping customers away from shopping centres. The CNG stations closure, sometimes by the government, has also scaled down the public transport which is the key commuting facility for labourers who attend markets from different parts of the city. Traders are looking for a good response from customers but the poor law and order situation perpetuated them as it is hitting their businesses now on a daily basis, they said, adding that "the electronic media has become the primary source to create chaos like situation after every big or small incident".
Sales of wholesale products, which the customers from other cities and towns buy, have also declined in the last few months in the wake of growing unrest in the city. The government should also stop its policy of unnecessarily taking mini buses and coaches into custody or detaining them for quite a long period, said President Karachi Transport Ittehad, Syed Irshad Bukhari.
He said public transport was always damaged in violence but the government never pays compensation to the owners nor it provides security to them on roads. He said the continued CNG station closure has also reduced the buses numbers to ply on roads. He said the transporters could park their vehicles in protest against the violent attacks and non-payment of compensation by the government, but such a step will make the city more chaotic. Bukhari urged the government to support the ailing public transport system in the city to help the citizens.