Says early closures and power cuts crippling business activity in capital
ISLAMABAD, APR 15 /DNA/ – President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sardar Tahir Mehmood has expressed grave concern over the escalating challenges faced by the business community in Islamabad, due to the imposition of restrictive market timings by the federal government.
Addressing a highly attended press conference at the Chamber House on Wednesday, he stated that the abrupt enforcement of strict business hours has not only disrupted commercial activity but has also negatively impacted the daily lives of citizens.
He highlighted that the situation has been further aggravated by over two hours of load shedding during peak business hours, severely affecting productivity and bringing many commercial operations close to a halt.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood noted that the impact extends beyond traders, as citizens are equally facing hardship. Limited shopping hours, combined with electricity outages, have made routine life increasingly difficult, particularly during the evening.
Drawing attention to a critical issue, he said that inconsistent policies across provinces are creating a sense of discrimination. He pointed out that while markets in Sindh operate until 9:00 PM and restaurants until 11:30 PM, businesses in Islamabad are subjected to much stricter limitations, an approach that undermines business confidence.
He urged the government to take immediate corrective measures, including revisiting business operating hours, allowing markets in Islamabad to remain open at least until 10:00 PM, introducing rational timings for restaurants and food outlets, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply during peak commercial hours.
He further emphasized that the formulation of business-friendly policies is essential to attract foreign investment, particularly from Gulf countries, where the current situation has adversely affected investor confidence.
Reaffirming the role of the business community, he said that traders and industrialists in Islamabad have always contributed positively to the national economy and deserve facilitation rather than undue restrictions.
Referring to the recent US-Pak talks held in Islamabad, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the business community extended full cooperation to the government and stands ready to support any future engagements of similar importance, as such events are directly linked to the country’s prestige and global standing.
On the occasion, President All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajraan, Ajmal Baloch, stressed the need for a viable and consultative mechanism for determining business hours in line with economic interests. He also urged government representatives to exercise caution in their statements regarding the business community, terming it the backbone of the country’s economy. He warned that if the community’s demands are not addressed it will have no option but to go for protest.
The press conference was also attended by Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, former President Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi, Executive Members Imran Minhas, Ishaq Sial, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Raja Naveed Satti, Najeeb Ellahi Malik, Zulqurnain Abbasi, former SVPs Khalid Chaudhry, Naveed Malik, senior members Israr Mishwani, Raja Majeed as well as Presidents and General Secretaries of various Traders Welfare Associations from across Islamabad.
