The Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee is making all out efforts to complete scrutiny of received claim forms to start disbursing compensation by the end of this month for the rehabilitation of December 28 arson-hit traders. Second meeting of the relief committee was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Investment, Zubair Motiwala who is also the chairman of the committee.
He decided to speedup work of scrutinising the claim forms. Out of 3,500 affected businessmen around 2,000 have deposited their claim forms out of which 1,500 forms have been scrutinised so far. It is said that majority of those who have not yet submitted the claim forms are uncomfortable in filing as they neither have an income tax registration nor have a sales tax registration. On the other hand majority of those who have filed claims indicated losses between Rs 10 lac to Rs 20 lac.
However some of the businessmen pointed out that their shops were too small and could not house goods worth Rs 10 lac to Rs 20 lac. Meanwhile, sources said that the compensation amount announced by Prime Minister has still not been received in the account opined for this purpose. Sources further said that the US consulate has nominated member of Pakistan American Business Consul, Iqbal Shakhani to monitor disbursement of compensation fund of Rs one billion allocated by US to compensate the affected businessmen.