CDA must resume work on construction of food street in Sitara Market, Altaf Shah
Islamabad: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Sardar Tahir Mehmood has reaffirmed that the Chamber is the sole and real representative of the business community of Islamabad and will continue to play a proactive advocacy role to ensure ease of doing business. He expressed these views while addressing a large delegation of Traders Welfare Association (TWA) Sitara Market, which visited the ICCI under the leadership of its President Syed Altaf Hussain Shah.
The ICCI President informed the delegation that the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), in a recent meeting, had assured the initiation of development work in all markets of the federal capital. He said that upgradation of market infrastructure would not only facilitate the business community but would also greatly benefit consumers.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood stated that the Chamber would continue to raise its voice for the resolution of challenges being faced by traders and the industrial sector to ensure a conducive business-friendly environment. He categorically ruled out any compromise on the prestige, respect and honour of the business community, vowing that he would not allow anyone to undermine it.
Addressing the gathering, President TWA Sitara Market Syed Altaf Hussain Shah expressed complete confidence in the ICCI leadership and highlighted the pressing issues being faced by traders in the area, including dilapidated roads and footpaths, choked sewage lines, poor sanitation conditions and the mushroom growth of encroachments.
He demanded that the stalled work on the construction of food street in Sitara Market should immediately be resumed in the interest of the traders as well as the consumers.
He further pointed out that traders are burdened with nearly ten different types of taxes and stressed the need for a one-window system, stating that the existing mechanism is cumbersome and results in unnecessary waste of time.
Senior Vice President ICCI Tahir Ayub said that the time had come to adopt a strategy of resistance for reconciliation to safeguard the rights of the business community. Vice President Irfan Chaudhry emphasized the importance of increasing Chamber membership to make the traders’ voice stronger and more effective.
Rana Mohammad Akram, General Secretary TWA Sitara Market, said that the business community was becoming increasingly frustrated and disappointed due to anti-business measures of concerned authorities, taken without consulting community leadership.
Patron-in-Chief Ahsan Zia, Vice Chairman Khurram Iqbal, former Senior Vice Presidents ICCI Khalid Chaudhry and Naveed Malik, Usman Ali Abbasi, Malik Basit and others also addressed the event. The meeting was also attended by executive members Ishaq Sial and Zulqurnain Abbasi, ICCI member Ashraf Farzand, Rana Qaisar and a large number of traders and business leaders.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
