Jammu, August 22, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the business in Jammu has taken a severe hit as most of the markets are witnessing closure due to curfew and restrictions imposed after the scrapping of special status on August 5 by the Indian government.
“The Indian government’s decision to scrap special status and bifurcate the territory has taken a heavy toll of the business as customers are not in a mood to buy valuables since they are paying attention to purchase essential commodities for households mainly due to disturbed situation prevailing in the city,” said Sharief Hussain Malik, owner of an electronic gadgets showroom at Bathindi, an area in outskirts of Jammu city.
Sharif Hussain Malik said that future of small shopkeepers was under threat as big investors would pose a big challenge in the times to come. While Rahil Rashid, proprietor of a Departmental Store in Bathindi, said that the restriction imposed after abrogation of Article 370 had adversely affected the business in the area where only 10-20 percent of population was local and the rest comprised outsiders, adding that when consumers were not present who would make purchases.
“Bathindi has only 20 percent local population while all others are from Poonch, Rajouri, Kashmir, Leh, Kargil and Ladakh. The outsiders including students went back to their native places after scrapping of Article 370,” said Rahil Rashid.
“Business has slowed down due to the prevailing situation. The traders are not getting the return in proportion to what they had invested. Snapping of mobile internet facility has also contributed in the slump. Point of Sale (POS) machines are lying defunct due to no Internet. The restoration of normalcy in business activity will take some time,” he added.
Gazanfar, owner of a Furnishing House and Irfan Ahmad, owner of readymade garments showroom, said that the customers were hardly visiting the market under the present circumstances due to which the sales had dropped by 20 to 30 percent.
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