PESHAWAR: Business community opposed the early closure of business premises and commercial hubs under energy conservation plan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded the federal government to review its decision.
Talking to this scribe here on Sunday, President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq asked the government to stop ‘step-motherly’ attitude with the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and let the business activities flourish in the province. He said that it is completely unfair to shut down business premises and commercial hubs by 8:30 pm by following directives of the government and authorities concerned on pretext of enforcing the Energy Conservation Plan.
The SCCI chief said that the energy conservation plan has not been implemented in Punjab as commercial markets and bazaars remained open till late night in Punjab, which is a reflection of the government ‘double-standard’ policy.
Mujeeb said that traders usually closed shops from 6pm to 8pm due to Iftar. “We want to keep our business open from 8pm to late in midnight so that people can visit markets for Eid shopping,” he said. He added that 80 percent of traders, especially belonging to remote areas, were in the habit of shutting their shops in the evening.
Ishaq said that business and commercial activities have already slowed down under the prevailing circumstances. On the other hand, he added that the business community is being forced on starvation, saying that the government’s double-standards policy was unacceptable to them.
He warned if the step-motherly attitude couldn’t stop with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forthwith then SCCI and business community will force on agitation.
He viewed the fasting people/customers mostly may prefer night timing for shopping instead of early day hours but when they (shoppers) thronged to bazaars after breaking fasts, the authorities concerned have started forcibly shutting down markets and shopping malls and also imposed heavy fines.
Ishaq urged the federal and provincial governments and high officials to allow opening of business premises and commercial hubs till late night timings in order to create ease for shoppers.
The SCCI chief expressed grave concern over erecting checking points at various locations in Peshawar cantonment areas, saying that unnecessary irritants created hurdles in smooth traffic flow but customers also being facing difficulties to swiftly reach the bazaars and shopping markets in the cant areas.
Therefore, he urged that government and relevant authorities remove the hurdles and checking points in cantonment areas to ease difficulties of people/customers and also keep smooth flow of traffic.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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