Farid Shinwari
PESHAWAR: Despite pledges to compensate traders affected due to Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) and Heritage Trial Project, the officer bearers of Traders Union have announced to hold protests in provincial city and Islamabad against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
Traders categorically said they would also move to Peshawar High Court for seeking justice in this regard.
After the launch of Heritage Trail Project from Gor Ghatri to Genta Ger by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, it (government) had ensured traders and shopkeepers to give each of them Rs 10,000 monthly, said Shahid Khan, president of Traders Union while speaking at a news conference at Peshawar press club. Dr Iftikhar, Mukhtiar, Siyam Khah, Shah Foor Khan and others were also in attendance.
Though the package was very meager but traders agreed and a written agreement was signed with relevant authorities in this regard, he informed and adding in light of this agreement, the provincial government will pay Rs 20,000 to each shopkeeper if the project was not completed in stimulated time. Thus the Heritage Trail Project has not yet been completed after four months of time, he added.
Mr Khan while sharing problems of traders saying that owing to construction work on Bus Rapid Transit Project, the business community has greatly been suffered and its businesses on decline. He regretted that all the businessmen are faced with monetary losses but on the other side, the provincial government is not ready to compensate them.
He asked officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter to initiate probe into alleged usage of sub-standard materials in Heritage Trial Project. However, the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Peshawar High Court should take sue motu action against the injustices with traders and shopkeepers after launch of BRT and Heritage Trail Project in provincial city, he appealed.
If KP government fails to address their grievances, traders who unveiled their future line of action saying that they would hold public gathering on 11th April, at Chowk-e-Yadgar and protesting sit-in at GT Road as well on same day. In order to develop pressure on government, they announced they would also stage protesting camps in Hashtangari, Firdaus, University Road and others places on 12th April and would give shutter down call on 19th April in provincial metropolitan.
It is worth mentioning here that Heritage Trail Project will be completed at a cost of Rs301.5 million to renovate and refurbish facade or outer appearances of 75 heritage buildings and structures out of 150 with a cultural and historical touch along 450 meters distance in this historic city of Peshawar.
