ISLAMABAD: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari has said that the government should consult with the business community to determine the working hours of the markets. Imposing a unilateral policy in difficult business conditions will not be beneficial.
The business community supports the measures taken to save energy, but without consultation, the measures will harm the country’s economy. Construction and repair works have been started in the markets of Islamabad With the efforts of Islamabad Chamber, CDA has decided to carry out development work, and Market Committees should cooperate with Chamber and CDA to make the project successful.
He expressed these views on Thursday while addressing a function organized in honor of Abdul Ghaffar Chaudhry, former Vice President Chamber and General Secretary of Trade Welfare Association G-8/1. On this occasion, construction works in markets, problems faced by traders were also discussed.
The President of Islamabad Chamber said that as the President of Islamabad Chamber, solving the problems of the businessmen of Islamabad is my first priority. He said that with the efforts of the Chamber, our long-standing demand for development works in the markets of Islamabad has been fulfilled. The work has started to solve all the problems that we mentioned to the Chairman CDA Tenders for development works have also been issued, G sectors have been included in the project on priority basis. Street lights, sewage and sanitation are the main issues in the markets, all the issues have been submitted in written form to CDA.
He said that it is our misfortune that out of 24 crore people, only 34 lakh are taxpayers, can they bear the burden of such a large population, and the government needs to take steps in this regard. This is what I demanded in my meeting with the Finance Minister: that instead of putting more tax burden on the people included in the tax net in the upcoming budget, the tax net should be increased. The Finance Minister assured us that he would seriously consider our budget proposals. He said that the business community needs unity in difficult situations. He said that under the energy saving policy, the government should consult the business community on the closure of shops at 8 o’clock. If the office hours are changed to 7 to 3 instead of 8 to 5, then there will be no need to force anyone to close the shop at 8 o’clock. Our policies should be designed to facilitate, not influence, the business community.
Speaking on this occasion, former Vice President Chamber and General Secretary of Trade Welfare Association G81, Abdul Ghaffar Chaudhry, while appreciating the 7 months of work of President Islamabad Chamber, said that representation in CDA Board is an important step. Projects like construction of hospital, school and expo center by the chamber are of historical importance. President Trade Welfare Association G81 Nasir Chaudhry said that I am grateful to the President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the entire business community that the way he has made efforts to solve our problems is unprecedented. Former ICCI President Zafar Bakhtawari, Khalid Chaudhry, Babar Chaudhry, Imtiaz Abbasi, Nisar Mirza, Zarif Ahmed Khan, Shujaat Ali Shah, Saeed Bhatti, Muhammad Hussain and others also participated in the meeting.
