Economic downturn persists in Bara, Tirah markets

PESHAWAR: Bara Bazaar and the main markets of Tirah in Khyber tribal district are continuing to face a deep economic slump, with traders and workers calling for urgent government action over unemployment, damaged infrastructure and the lack of basic civic services.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Bara Traders Union President Syed Ayaz Wazir said Bara Bazaar had been one of the country’s well-known commercial centres before 2009, with more than 10,000 shops and thousands of warehouses. He said people from different parts of Pakistan had travelled there for work because transit trade and related business activity supported thousands of jobs.

Wazir said the market was closed in September 2009 during a military operation against militants and remained shut for several years. He said commercial areas were largely abandoned during that period, many shops and buildings were badly damaged, and business activity stopped completely. According to him, the market reopened in February 2016, but traders did not have the financial capacity to rebuild their businesses.

Referring to the slow recovery, Wazir said: "Eleven years have passed since the market reopened, yet it has failed to regain its past glory."

He said lasting development could not take place without peace and stability and urged the authorities concerned to play their role in restoring confidence among traders and residents.

Damage, loans and civic problems

Wazir said the roofs of many shops were severely affected during the long closure and that some had caved in during rainfall, causing monetary losses and, in certain cases, injuries. He called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to extend interest-free loans to affected traders and to complete reconstruction work on damaged markets and shops.

He also sought the establishment of a modern training centre in Bara Bazaar for young traders and workers, saying business and vocational training could help create dignified employment opportunities for local youth.

Raising concerns about municipal services, Wazir said the drainage system was not functioning properly and rainwater entered markets and shops because of poor sewage disposal. He said the Tehsil Municipal Administration had virtually no presence in the area. He appealed to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who belongs to the area, to issue special instructions for improving access to clean drinking water, electricity, gas, road pavements and sanitation on a priority basis.

Tirah traders report displacement and losses

Tirah Traders Community President Muhammad Sher Afghan Afridi said more than 8,000 traders, along with local residents, had been displaced from Tirah Maidan and were currently living as internally displaced persons. He said only around 10 per cent had been able to restart businesses in Bara, Jamrud or Peshawar, while most remained without work and were facing hardship.

Afridi said the Tirah business community had suffered losses of more than Rs500 million over the last four months, with losses continuing to rise each day. He added that markets in Lorbagh, Barbagh and Pir Mela had been badly hit by road construction and monsoon rains.