Saddar, electronics and mobile markets to close on JI’s call against petrol levy

KARACHI, September 2, 2026: Markets and shopping malls from Clifton to Saddar in Karachi will remain closed on Wednesday as traders join a strike called on the request of Jamaat-e-Islami against the additional levy imposed on petrol and diesel, ARY News reported.

The Alliance of Market Associations announced that markets across the city would observe a complete shutdown.

Alliance president Faheem Noori said the heads of 43 markets had decided to support the strike. He said Saddar, electronics, mobile phone and other markets would remain completely closed.

Noori added that all markets included in the alliance had been directed to take part in the strike.

Meanwhile, the Clifton Defence Traders Market Association also announced its support for the shutdown.

The association said the additional amount imposed on petrol and diesel was unacceptable.

President of the Clifton Defence Traders Market Association Rashid Khan said the traders’ strike was being observed for the public.

The traders are participating in the shutdown on the request of Jamaat-e-Islami as part of the protest against the petrol levy.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Monem Zafar had recently claimed that the foundation for the success of the September 3 strike has been laid.

The JI Karachi chief says a 130-rupee levy or extortion is charged on petrol, which is massively affecting ordinary people’s day-to-day financial budgets.

Monem Zafar, while relating the closing of the entire metropolitan area, said that the whole nation will face a standstill situation in case Karachi completely shuts down.

The 52-year-old JI leader further added that the major issues of the city are water, fixed tax, and electricity, which truly need to be addressed in a fair manner to facilitate the indigenous citizens and other folks coming in search of sustenance or other purposes.

On the other hand, about the ongoing sit-ins demonstrating against the petroleum levy, the federal government has reached out to JI.

The insiders in this matter hinted that Liaquat Baloch, JI Deputy Chief, was contacted by federal ministers, and it is predictably said that the federal ministers’ three-member committee is agreeable to visit the place of sit-in or an alternative location for negotiations.

The sources additionally revealed that JI asked for a 24-hour deadline to respond about the talks; the party leaders will hold negotiations with a three-member federal ministers committee, and the offer has been presented to hold the talks in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, or any location in the country.