KARACHI: United Business Group (UBG) Patron in Chief SM Muneer, President Zubair Tufail, Khalid Tawab Gulzar Firoz and other leaders on Tuesday expressed their sorrow and concern over the devastating fire in Saddar Cooperative Market and burning of hundreds of shops.

SM Muneer, Patron on Chief of UBG, said in a statement that the property of three and a half to four hundred shopkeepers of the cooperative market has been reduced to ashes due to the terrible fire. The shopkeepers of the cooperative market have been paying taxes to the federal and provincial governments, so they have the right to have the government take steps to rehabilitate their damaged and restart businesses.

UBG President Zubair Tufail said that the shops owners Suffered more than Rs 2 billion loses. The government should immediately come to the aid of the devastated and distressed shopkeepers and make up for their losses.

Zubair Tufail demanded from the government that an investigation should be carried out and those responsible for this catastrophe should be given severe punishments. Chairman UBG Sindh Zone Khalid Tawab said that the government should announce immediate relief for the rehabilitation of the victims and it is the responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. In order to help the distressed shopkeepers immediately, immediate funds should be provided to revive the business of the shopkeepers.