PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and local administration have agreed to jointly devise a mechanism and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to remove illegal encroachment in the city.
The agreement was reached between a delegation of the SCCI led by its President Junaid Altaf and Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Capt (R) Sanaullah Khan here on Tuesday.
The delegation consisted of Chairman of Anjuman e Tajran Peshawar and senior traders’ leader Shuakat Ali Khan, SCCI vice president Sabir Ahmad Bangansh and member of the chamber’s executive committee Saifullah Khan and others.
President Junaid Altaf proactively took up the reservation of the trading community on the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign in the city and stated that traders have already extended cooperation to the local administration and are fully compliant with policies and orders.
He, however, stressed that the chamber, traders’ leaders, and bazaars association must be consulted before any actions to prevent creating any kind of gulf between the business community and government, relevant department and authorities.
The SCCI chief urged that the government and relevant authorities should ensure dignity of the trading community and precious items in the shops while launching operation and enforcement of policies and orders. He also called for making proper arrangements for removal of pushcarts and auto-rickshaws, standing next to shops and shopping markets.
President Junaid Altaf said the prolonged border closure has brought consistent stagnation in trade and commercial activities.
He emphasized that the business community is already in great trouble in the prevailing circumstances.
He urged the government and local administration to adopt business-friendly policies and avoid any such actions that would become the cause of further decline in business and industrial growth in the province.
SCCI chief Junaid Altaf and Anjuman E Tajran Chairman Shuakat Ali Khan highlighted the issue of the trading community, especially the pushcarts and gave a number of suggestions for the prompt resolution of all problems.
Earlier, bodies have agreed to jointly frame a mechanism and SOPs to remove illegal encroachment within a timeframe of two months.
The SCCI chief invited the DC to visit the Chamber house. While accepting the invitation, DC said the SOPs and mechanisms will collectively be framed during his visit to the chamber house.
DC Peshawar Sanaullah Khan assured that trading community would be taken into confidence before taking any actions.
