*ISLAMABAD - The matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) would not cost billions of rupees loss to businesses, after Punjab government and law enforcement agencies accepted Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) demand to keep markets open during the T20 tournament.*
“It is a great moment for the business community as international cricket and trade & economic activities have now been associated with each other and would continue parallel", the LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad said in a statement.
They said that this decision is not only a bigger favor to the business community but also to the local and foreigner cricket fans who love to do shopping at Liberty and other adjacent markets whenever they come to enjoy the match at Gaddafi Stadium.
They said that during the cricket matches in recent past, Liberty and other markets and restaurants adjacent to Gaddafi Stadium Lahore were ordered to remain closed, which resulted in significant loss of business activities, not only to the traders but to the daily wagers.
One day closure of Liberty and other surrounded markets causes a loss of Rs 21 billion to the trade and economic activities.
They said the business community is ready to cooperate with the government to ensure all necessary security measures during these matches, but they also want that the adjacent markets and restaurants should not be forced to remain close during matches.