KARACHI, April 13: Representatives of the businessman community and trade associations have reportedly linked the implementation of the decisions taken at the recently-held National Energy Conference in Lahore to peace in Karachi. The government has assured them of addressing their concerns in a couple of days.

According to sources, the businessman community and traders conveyed their serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the city during a crucial meeting with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and a three-member committee constituted by him for the implementation of the conference decisions. Mr Shah had flown into the city from Islamabad for the meeting, held at the CM’s House on Friday.

Committee members — Information and Electric Power Minister Shazia Marri, Zubair Motiwala and Rashid Rabbani — discussed the energy conservation issue with Siraj Kassam Teli, Talat Majeed Memon and other representatives of the businessman community and trade associations. Pakistan People’s Party leader Taj Haider, MPA Shoaib Ibrahim as well as the additional Karachi commissioner and additional inspector-general of were also present.

The businessmen’s delegation told the chief minister that the implementation of the conference decisions that include closure of all business, trade and commercial activities by 8pm would remain a myth unless the city’s law and order improved markedly.

Assuring the delegation of addressing all their concerns, Mr Shah said a high-level meeting on law and order would be held in a day or two to ensure security to the businessman community. He directed the provincial police chief to take appropriate steps in this regard.

The chief minister said that protecting life and property of citizens was the prime responsibility of the government and that it would do all it could in this regard. He said the suggestions given by the delegation at the meeting would be seriously considered.

On the chief minister’s insistence on closure of shops by 8pm to cope with the deepening power crisis, the delegation informed him that since Karachi was the economic hub of the country, it should have an exception.

Most delegation members demanded an uninterrupted electricity supply during the business hours before expecting from traders the observance of the proposed closure timings.

They also complained of growing threat from extortionists, saying that the police had earlier taken action in this regard but much more was yet to be done.

The chief minister told the delegation that he wanted to speak to all stakeholders before making any announcement. The delegation said that if the government brought qualitative improvement in the law and order situation by providing them enhanced security, only then it would be possible for them to open their businesses early in the morning and pull down shutters much before the present closure time.

Mr Shah said the government was focusing on various options for electricity generation but conservation was necessary to ensure an immediate relief from the crisis. In this regard, he also made mention of two weekly holidays, lighting of alternate streetlights and de-energising of neon signboards after sunset.