Encroachments mafia rules on Islamabad Streets and Markets.
ICCI urges CDA and MCI to address key issues of business community
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that the business community is the major contributor to tax revenue generation and emphasized that CDA and MCI should facilitate them in promoting business activities. He said that Pakistan is going through a difficult economic situation and all concerned government departments should facilitate the business community in business promotion that will help make the economy self-sustainable. He said this while talking to Rana Muhammad Waqas Anwar, Chief Officer, MCI during his visit to ICCI along with Yasir Farhad DMA and Rana Waqas Director Revenue.
Ahsan Bakhtawari said that providing clean drinking water and other facilities is the basic responsibility of a municipality and urged that CDA and MCI should provide these facilities to the business community in Islamabad. He stressed that CDA, MCI and ICT Administration should set up one window facility in their respective domains to address the key issues of the business community under one roof. He said that CDA should allocate a playground to ICCI for promoting sports activities. He stressed that CDA should set up flower markets in commercial centres including I-8 Markaz and G-11 Markaz for young entrepreneurs. He proposed that CDA and MCI should allocate some funds for Traders Welfare Associations to complete the pending development works markets. He said that old sewerage lines are often blocked in markets and stressed for their replacement with new ones.
Speaking on the occasion, Rana Muhammad Waqas Anwar, Chief Officer, MCI said that one window for payments of fees will be operational soon. He said that CDA and MCI would utilize funds for the development of markets. He said that an increase in taxes will be made in consultation with the business community. He assured that the issues of cleanliness of markets and auction of areas for flower markets will be addressed. He suggested that a team of ICCI should visit MCI to finalize the plan for addressing issues step by step.
Yasir Farhad, Director DMA said that smart parking solutions in markets and the city are being planned. He said that payment of license and other fees can now be made online. He said that ICCI and market associations should cooperate with CDA and MCI in addressing the issue of encroachments in markets. Rana Waqas, Director Revenue MCI assured to resolve the tax payment issues of the business community.
Khalid Iqbal Malik, Group Leader ICCI said that frequent transfers of the Heads of CDA and ICT Administration slow down the pace of development works in the city and stressed that the government should appoint them for at least 3 years to ensure continuity of development works.
Zafar Bakhtawari, Former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan said that filtration plants and public washrooms are the basic needs and emphasized that CDA should provide them in markets to facilitate the traders. He further stressed for providing parking, carpeting of roads, repair of footpaths in markets.
Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Former President ICCI stressed that the CDA should revise the terms and conditions for the auction of plots in consultation with the stakeholders.
The representatives of various markets also highlighted various issues and emphasized that the CDA and MCI cooperate in addressing issues and facilitating the trading community for better growth of trade activities.
Fixing the economy is the key priority of the government – Punjab Law Minister
Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Punjab’s Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs said that fixing the economic problems is the top priority of the government and all possible measures are being taken to revive the economy. He said that the business community is the key stakeholder in the economic development of the country and the government is determined to provide them maximum facilitation in business development. He assured that he would play a role in taking up the key issues of the business community at relevant forums for their early redress so that they can promote businesses with ease. He said this while addressing as chief guest at a Business Networking Lunch organized by the former MNA Kanwar Qutbuddin Khan in honor of Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that Pakistan is a country of very young population and we need to develop a strong economy to give them a better future. He said that the business community has a lot of hopes from the Special Investment Facilitation Council and we are confident that it would steer the economy out of the current economic crisis. He said that the government is planning to impose a fixed tax on retailers and realtors and emphasized that this should be done in consultation with the stakeholders to avoid any unnecessary problems to the business sector. He assured that the business community would fully support the government in its endeavors for the revival of the economy.