In recent years, small local shops have closed

In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centers or malls to do their shopping.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

In recent years, the rise of large shopping centres and malls has led to the closure of many small local shops. In my opinion, this is a negative development because it reduces income opportunities for small business owners and contributes to environmental pollution.

To begin with, small shops have been severely affected as people prefer to visit larger malls. These shopping hubs provide a wide variety of products under one roof, which discourages customers from visiting multiple small outlets. Consequently, demand for goods in local shops declines, forcing owners to cut wages or even close their businesses. For instance, since the opening of Lyallpur Galleria in Faisalabad, numerous small eateries and clothing stores in the surrounding area have shut down due to heavy financial losses.

Furthermore, shopping malls have a significant negative impact on the environment. Most malls are located far from residential areas, which encourages people to travel by private vehicles, increasing air pollution. In addition, malls require huge amounts of energy and often rely on fuel-powered generators to meet their electricity needs. These generators emit harmful gases that further deteriorate air quality. For example, since the expansion of large malls in Lahore, the city’s Air Quality Index has dropped drastically, and it is now ranked among the most polluted cities in the world.

In conclusion, the growing preference for large shopping malls is a negative trend as it threatens the survival of small businesses and worsens environmental problems.to move away from newspapers and television. Therefore, I believe this shift towards the internet is a positive development.