peshawar   -   Businesses in the provincial capital in general and on University Road in particular are facing a decline nowadays, revealed a survey by The Nation here on Monday.  

University Road in the provincial capital has witnessed an increase in the numbers of business outlets in recent years, leading to a competition among them. Some traders say the businesses have been affected by the coronavirus lockdown, general price hike in the country and also the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

Several business persons on the University Road said that due to construction of BRT, the route has got narrowed and has little space for parking of vehicles in front of shops.

Sameer Khan, managing a shoe shop of a brand, told this correspondent that four years ago, University Road was much wider but the BRT has now reduced space for parking in front of their shops and hence many customers don’t visit them nowadays.

“Traffic police don’t allow vehicles to park outside our stores, this is why many people prefer shopping in other places,” he added. Attaullah Khan, manager of a garments store, said that businesses have suffered decline mainly because of coronavirus pandemic and also the overall spiralling prices in the country.

“Businesses have declined by more than 50 percent due to coronavirus pandemic and also by the construction of BRT due to some extent,” he added.

Waqar Younas, branch manager of Forever Shoes on University Road, said that businesses have been affected by general price hike and also because of parking issues as BRT construction has narrowed the road.

“Compared to our branches in other areas, this branch on University Road is facing crisis. Our management is not satisfied with this branch as we are earning an inadequate income, which cannot even meet the salaries of staff as well as the rent and other expenses,” he added. He said that parking was not allowed outside their shops along the main road, which is why many clients don’t visit the shops when they have vehicles.

Abdullah Khan, salesman in Jawad Towers, said that one reason behind decline in businesses is also the fact that the numbers of stores have witnessed an increase.

“There have been instances wherein workers and sales persons serving at a store decided to open their own oulets, thus leading to an increase in the numbers of such businesses on University Road. Thus, this caused a drop in sales of some outlets due to competition,” he added.

Amjad Khan, a manager of Jawad Towers, said that BRT did not cause problem to businesses in their Towers, where proper parking space exists for vehicles, unlike the main road where vehicles have to park in front of shops. Abdul Rehman, who runs a shop of power batteries for vehicles right under the BRT corridor in Dabgari locality of the city, said that his business had been severely affected by the project.

“BRT has reduced space in front of our shops. Our job is to replace and repair batteries in cars and other vehicles. But after BRT construction, vehicles cannot be parked outside our shops now, this is why many clients don’t even visit us now,” he added.

KP traders march to Islamabad today: Meanwhile, Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajeran KP has announced to march to Faizabad and Islamabad today (Tuesday) in protest against price hike and rising taxes in the country. “We reject the presidential ordinance and the point-of-sale system wherein a trader is required to tax customers and then submit those taxes on all products to the FBR on a daily basis. We also reject advance tax on medicine,” stated Shehzad Siddiqui, general secretary of Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajeran KP.