Joint body to be formed for amicable resolution of traders issues

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and district government Tuesday agreed to form a joint committee to build up a close liaison and make joint efforts for amicable resolve traders’ community issues.
The proposed 12 members’ body would make joint measures to real glory of the oldest city Peshawar by removing encroachments and illegal structures and beatification, besides resolving issues of traders’ community pertaining to different provincial governments and local administration on priority basis.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and iNdustry (SCCI) president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad and Mayor Peshawar Haji Zuabiar Ali during his chamber house here.
Before the beginning of the meeting, President SCCI’s Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad presented a solution, condemning derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him] by two leaders of ruling Indian Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
He urged the world power and OIC to take prompt steps for elimination of Islamphobia across the world, especially emphasizing the Muslim countries to announce boycott of Indian’s products.
The resolution was unanimously endorsed by the house, strongly denouncing sacrilegious comments in dignity of holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). On the occasion, the participants observed a minute of silence as well.
Hasnain Khurshid while highlighting issues of traders community expressed serious apprehensions over restoration primitive of octroi system, a tax on various goods brought into a town, mushroom encroachments, building of illegal structures, collection of double taxes, harassing of traders by district administration and provincial government tax-collection authorities through various taxes, deteriorating law and order situation, incidents of robberies, kidnaping for ransom, protest demonstrations on main trunk roads, especially outside provincial assembly, growing traffic issues, giving of representative to chamber in district government and others traders’ issues.
SCCI chief urged the Mayor Peshawar to take pragmatic steps for prompt resolution of the traders community issues.
Besides, the meeting was attended by SCCI’s senior vice president Imran Khan Mohmand, vice president Javed Akhtar, Chairman Anjuman e Tajaraan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Shuakat Ali Khan, former presidents Haji Muhammad Afzal, Riaz Arshad, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Faud Ishaq, former senior vice president Abdul Jalil Jan, Abidullah Yousafzai, executive members haji Ghulam Hussain, S Minhajuddin, Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Arshad Siddique, and Ihsanullah, Saddar Gul, Rashid Siddique, Muhammad Ishtiaq, presidents and office bearers of bazaars association, and traders in a large number.
Mayor Peshawar Haji Zubair Ali took serious notice of the traders’ community issues and assured the participants that they will take every possible step to resolve all those problems on priority.
In this regard, he proposed the formation of a 12 member committee to build up a concrete liaison and take joint steps and raise up issues of traders’ community with relevant authorities for prompt resolution.
The SCCI chief agreed to the proposed joint committee and asked Mayor Peshawar to hold joint meetings on a regular basis.
Mayor Peshawar said he fully knew about the issues of the traders’ community. However, he stressed the need of building a concrete liaison between the district government and the business community to hold regular meetings on a monthly basis.
Zubair Ali informed a technical committee would be also constituted, which would be given the task to take up technical and complicated issues with relevant provincial authorities. He disclosed that the old watch and wardan system would be reactivated to maintain law and order in the city, as the district assembly had given approval in this regard.
The Mayor Peshawar said a hefty amount would be spent on the Safe City Project under which more than 1000 cameras would be installed across the town.
On the occasion, the chamber’s former presidents and traders leaders, bazaars association office bearers also spoke on the occasion.