MM News

RAWALPINDI: Trade bodies of Rawalpindi have demanded compensation from the government for the loss of the businesses and shops at Urdu Bazar during a fire that erupted on Thursday.

Secretary-General of Urdu Bazaar, Syed Shahid Ali said, “Compensation is essential for the survival of the affected traders and revival of destroyed parts of the bazaar.” However, no contact has been made by the government authorities so far and no compensation has been announced yet, he lamented.

Shahid Ali informed nearly 17 shops including decoration, stationery, books and bakery outlets were completely destroyed in the incident. He estimated the losses, caused by the fire, in the range of Rs 1 billion to Rs 1.2 billion, adding that it was the biggest fire that the market has ever caught for decades.

The secretary urged the IECSO to immediately remove the hanging timeworn wires as traders suffered worth million of rupee loss due to incidents of electric short circuits because of outdated wires.“If the government does not come forward to help them, it will become difficult for them to survive under the circumstances,” he added.

President All Pakistan Traders Union, Kashif Chaudhry asked the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation to remove the encroachments from the city areas as they have demanded earlier many times, adding the rescue teams had faced difficulties to reach the affected site in time last day resulting in a huge loss.

Chaudhry also demanded immediate rehabilitation work of the buildings in dilapidated conditions in the area to avoid any happening of such incidents in the future. “We stand side by side with the shopkeepers and we will be with them until their buildings are rebuilt,” he added.

It is worth mentioning here at least 12 commercial buildings were gutted and two razed to the ground after a massive fire ripped through the old Urdu Bazaar on Thursday.

The over 12 buildings that were damaged in the fire housed stationery shops, printing presses, bookshops, stores as well as bakeries and decoration items usually used in marriage functions. The fire continued raging for more than eight hours before the fire department declared it had been controlled.

Immediately after receiving a call about the incident, emergency officials with multiple fire trucks reached the scene. Thick black smoke and flames could be seen pouring out from the windows and roofs of the buildings. These buildings were more than 80 years old.