A delegation of Pakistan Qaumi Tajir Ittehad (PQTI) led by its central chairman and President Tajir Ittehad Multan, Tariq Mehmud Malik called on Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at the Chief Minister's Secretariat here on Thursday.
The traders assured the chief minister to distance themselves from APDM's shutter down strike on October 06. They said that business community would keep its shops open and not become the tool of any political party involved in 'violence' and 'destruction'.
The traders' representatives expressed their full support to the policies of President General Pervez Musharraf for the economic stability of the country and the measures adopted by Pervaz Elahi for the welfare of business community.
The leaders of Tajir Ittehad observed that economic activities had been expedited due to sagacious decisions of the government and the purchasing power of the people had increased due to availability of job opportunities.
They said that that opposition parties should not hamper the business activities of traders' community through processions or shutter down strike calls and instead should adopt a legal and constitutional way through courts.
He said that Pakistan Muslim League and its allied parties would re-elect President General Pervez Musharraf with a heavy majority on October 6. He said the elements who had tendered resignations had insulted the mandate of the masses and they would be totally rejected in the forthcoming general elections.
He said complete security-cover would be provided to the traders and shop keepers who would not participate in the strike and the government would foil every effort to disturb routine business activities.
Regarding the demand of the traders' leaders regarding property tax, the Chief Minister announced setting up of a committee to be led by City District Nazim Multan, Faisal Mukhtar and said that the recommendations of the committee would be implemented.
He further said that the demand of the traders community for reviewing drug rules will be given due consideration. Advisor to Chief Minister Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal Khan Khakwani, District Nazim Multan Faisal Mukhtar, President Qaumi Tajir Ittehad Southern Punjab and Chairman Tajir Ittehad Multan, Muhammad Akhtar Butt, Senior Vice President Tajir Ittehad, Soofi Abdur Rehman and other were also present.