They said that the entire area gave a deserted look. A large number of traders and workers were seen sitting outside their shops in the morning. "An ongoing feud between two groups forced the closure in as many as 15 small markets in the Empress Market in the Saddar area, which remained closed all day," Chairman of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Muhammad Atiq Mir said.
He said that although the share of business of these markets was minimal in the city's total trade, the forced closure "is a bad omen for local businesses". According to him, the closure also affected the daily wage workers. Vendors running small roadside stalls in these markets were also affected by the closure, he said.