Traders affirm support to govt, admin in removal of illegal structures in city markets

Anti-encroachment campaign
No compromise on Shahi Katha, demolition of legal business and shops, SCCI, BF declares
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Businessman Forum along with several traders’ bodies and associations on Thursday took a unified stance regarding the anti-encroachment campaign and declared no compromise on razing down legal businesses and shops, especially Shahi Katha market in the city.
Traders at a joint meeting arranged by Businessman Forum and SCCI here at chamber reaffirmed commitment to support provincial government and district administration in the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign.
They, however, made it clear that demolition of legal businesses and shops won’t be acceptable under guise of the anti-encroachment drive in the city.
The meeting was chaired by SCCI Senior Vice president Abdul Jalil Jan and Businessman Forum leader and former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour.
Apart from members of the chamber’s executive committee Haji Nadeem Rauf, Saifullah Khan, Aftab Iqbal, Ashfaq Ahmad, Abdul Nasir, Chairman of Anjuman e Tajran Khyber Pakhtunhwa Shaukat Ali Khan, Anjuman Tajran Peshawar lifetime president and former SCCI president Haji Muhammad Afzal, Business Forum leader Khalid Gul Mohmand, Khalid Pakhtunyar, Pir Dilwar Khan, Tariq Haideri, Tahir Nawaz, Zafar Khattak, Zafar Shinwari, Ajab Khan, Abdul Razzaq Chitrali, Gul Rehman, former vice president Javed Akhtar, Sohail Ahmad, Haji Ihsanullah, Saddar Gul, Faiz Rasool, Ishtiaq Muhammad Paracha, along with traders, market, bazaar unions presidents, office bearers and others were present in a large number.
Traders viewed economic and commercial activities have already slowed down in the prevailing circumstances while the launch of the anti-entrainment drive further multiplied miseries of the business community.
We are ready to cooperate with the local administration but there will be no compromise on Shahi Katha market.
The meeting slammed the misbehavior of senior officials and stated that the business community believes to resolve issues through table talks but abuse, harassment of traders is intolerable during the anti-encroachment campaign.
Ghazanfar Bilour commented on the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the city, stating that they have no idea what the provincial government and local administration want or desire to flourish business and economic activities.
He made it clear that anti-traders policy is unacceptable and said the business community don’t want any kind of confrontation but they have wished to resolve all issues through negotiations.
We stand with traders and have a firm stance on the anti-encroachment campaign.
Ghazanfar Bilour vowed to continue to fight for fulfillment of all legitimate demands and provision of facilities and relief to the business community.
Businessman forum leader emphasized that foreign investment won’t be flourished until provision of facilities to the established businesses and industries.
Haji Muhammad Afzal in his remarks opined SCCI and Businessman Forum have clear stance on the anti-encroachment and they will never allow anyone to commit economic murder of the traders and jobless them.
The traders’ leader said SCCI and BF had always played a central role in resolution of business community issues by taking them with relevant authorities’ effective manner.
Traders’ leader said it is quite clear that Shahi Katha is property of the local government and the intervention of district administration into this matter is unacceptable.
He informed that traders in the city started removal of illegal structures on a self-help basis so he requested the administration.