Wholesalers in Karachi have announced the closure of the market in protest against the rate list issued by the commissioner. The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the wholesalers' association in Karachi. Shopkeepers at Jodia Bazar, the city's largest wholesale market, have rejected the rate list and have decided to shut down operations.
Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, stated that if the commissioner wishes commodities to be sold according to the rate list, he must ensure their delivery. He questioned how sugar, with an ex-mill rate of Rs134 per kg, could be sold at Rs123 per kg in the wholesale market. Rauf emphasized that sustaining daily losses in the millions is unsustainable, leading to the decision to close the wholesale market starting today.
This action could potentially lead to a shortage of essential commodities in the city ahead of the Holy month of Ramzan, which is expected to begin on Wednesday, March 13, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department's forecast.
