KARACHI: Members of a delegation from Saddar Cooperative Market sought Karachi Chamber’s assistance in dealing with the lacklustre business activities at commercial markets where sales have gone drastically down mainly due to skyrocketing inflation.
Expressing deep concerns over worsening business environment, President Cooperative Market Association Waqar Ghori stressed that the KCCI must convince the government to come up with an effective plan of action in the forthcoming budget so that the inflation could be brought down and businesses could be saved from disaster.
“It is high time to save the economy and businesses from complete collapse; otherwise, shopkeepers of not only the Cooperative Market but also many other markets will not be able a stay afloat and close down their businesses which would trigger massive unemployment,” he added.
President KCCI Mohammed Tariq Yousuf, Senior Vice President Touseef Ahmed, Vice President Mohammad Haris Agar, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon and KCCI Managing Committee were also present on the occasion.
Cooperative Market delegation also sought KCCI’s help in dealing with the parking issue outside their market in Saddar where motorbikes of customers are quickly lifted by traffic police department which discourages customers to visit this market. The exorbitant electricity tariff is also having a devastating impact and the situation has worsened to such an extent that many shopkeepers are not even in a position to make breakeven.
The delegation members also paid tribute to the leadership of KCCI for playing a commendable role in release of compensation to the shopkeepers of the Cooperative Market whose shops were completely engulfed by fire which erupted on November 14, 2021.
President KCCI Mohammed Tariq Yousuf, in his remarks, stated that it was a well-known fact that the economy was currently going through its worst phase which has impacted the lives of people belonging to all segments of society but the government was seriously trying its best to minimize the impact.
“Although the situation is still far away from being ideal but improvements have started taking place during the last couple of months”, he noted while referring to opening of LCs of various essential items and commodities which remained completely suspended for several months.
He was optimistic that the overall situation would improve further but it will take time, may be the next five to six more months.
“KCCI, being the true representatives of small traders and industrialists, has been vocally urging the government at all available platforms and meetings to provide relief to public in the ongoing unbearable era of inflation in shape of reduction in tariffs, taxes and duties,” he added while referring to his recent meeting Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
He also assured to take up the parking issue with the high-ups of police department so that the traffic police officials in the said area could act leniently and avoid motorbikes lifting from Cooperative Market at least till Eidul Azha.
President KCCI further said that the doors of Karachi Chamber were always open particularly for Small Traders and Shopkeepers who can approach KCCI’s Special Committee for Small Traders which remain effectively operational under the supervision of Majeed Memon who was readily available to all shopkeepers’ associations for assistance.
“Any issue being faced by shopkeepers of Cooperative Market whether pertains to law and order, taxation, electricity, gas, water, taxation or customs etc. may please be brought to this Chamber’s notice at the earliest and we will try our best to get it amicably resolved”, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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