Extortion and kidnapping in the city is at such a level that businessmen are not safe even at their houses. Details of lawlessness and its impact are in the news item below.
In my view this is not as much of a problem as it has become. If it were just a lawlessness issue then it could have been dealt with easily. But in reality it is a political issue. This is happening due to complicity of police and lack of will of government to do something on this issue.
I think it is not an exaggeration to say that Karachi’s economy is at death throes. And since Karachi contributes more than 90% of Sindh’s revenues, death of Karachi’s economy will impact the whole province, and even across the whole country. Because Karachi’s business is shifting not just to other cities of Pakistan but also to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
This is similar to what happened after PPP’s first nationalization policy of 70’s. Majority of businessmen of the country belonged to Karachi (Parsis, Gujratis, Kathiawaris, Memons), and when the government usurped their industries then they stopped investing here and shifted their capital outside the country. This had disastrous impact on Pakistan’s economy.
Karachi becoming worst city for doing business, no option but to protest
KARACHI: Unbridled lawlessness and thriving Bhatta industry is resulting in making Karachi the worst city of doing business in Pakistan and traders are left with no option except a strong protest and silently leaving the city, said President All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders. and Cottage Industries ( APOST&CI), Karachi Chapter,** Mehmood Hamid**.
He said two Eids are the major business seasons for traders, but unfortunately they are also hay days for Bhatta collectors of Karachi who enjoy overt and covert support of the ruling political stakeholders. He said unlike old days now the Bhatta mafia openly operates in the city as police and law enforcing agencies do not take action against the big fish of this dirty business.
Whenever, traders make a big hue and cry, a few small timers are arrested and weak cases made against them, but the real makers and shakers of extortion industry in Karachi are never touched.
Hamid said after heartbreaking experiences of many years now the Karachi traders have decided that enough is enough. The major trader bodies like Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) are determined to lodge a strong protest after the Eid.
He said all associations of markets and industrial estates in the city would participate in the protest, for which hectic contacts are in process to ensure a historic protest of Karachi traders.
He said though** the Sindh governor and chief minister** have assured the traders that they would order strict action against elements involved in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes, but the Karachi traders have a long experience of such government assurances, which he termed time-buying tactics.
Small traders’ leader said the law and order situation has deteriorated in the city to such an extent that now trader do not feel it safe to visit bank branches and ATM booths.
**He said delivery of goods to markets, factories and shops has also become dangerous and extortion mafia hijack the delivery vehicles at gunpoint and release them after the payment of extortion money.
He said this is the first time that extortion money is received even on the sacrificial animals**.
He said this is the worst display of the writ of government but the concerned authorities are still reluctant to take a firm action as lack political will to nab the real big fish behind this multi-billion sector.
Hamid said police reforms are necessary as the cops recruited on political grounds obey orders of their political heads and not their senior government officers.
He said there is a strong covert nexus between the organized criminal gangs and police stations and in most cases no action is taken against them and if even some arrests are made, very weak cases are lodged against them; therefore, conviction rate in these cases is negligible.
He warned if Karachi traders are not given protection it would result in disastrous situation for business and trade in the city.
He said big investors, industrials and tycoons have already shifted their capital to safer countries in the region including Bangladesh and Sir Lanka.
He said now they are some medium-sized and small traders who are in fact running the economy of the city and they are becoming disheartened due to the ever worsening law and order situation in Karachi and contemplating shifting their trade to other cities of Pakistan.
He said it is in the national interest to protest these traders so that the trade activities in the city are saved from a total standstill.
Rehman Malik PhD.
But its really sad to know that PhD level got so down to this point