Islamabad –: Prominent trader leaders from across Islamabad have voiced strong opposition to what they term as unjustified fines and coercive measures being taken in the name of trade licenses. The business community, already reeling under economic pressure during the holy month of Ramadan, has accused authorities of harassment, intimidation, and exploitation.
Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran and Traders Action Committee Islamabad, described the situation as a “conspiracy against the government”, stating that small traders are being pushed toward confrontation through unnecessary impositions.
Khalid Chaudhry, Secretary and Convener of the Traders Committee ICCI, criticized the practice of forcing traders to obtain licenses without any formal gazette notification, calling it “completely illegal and arbitrary.” He said traders are being fined heavily without justification and subjected to unnecessary bureaucracy.
Akhlaq Abbasi, President of G-10 Markaz, along with Raja Zulfiqar of Karachi Company, warned that attempts are being made to “provoke traders into protesting against the government”, which could lead to widespread unrest if not addressed immediately.
President of Supermarket, Shahzad Shabbir Abbasi, and Sitara Market’s Syed Altaf Shah questioned the logic behind requiring six different licenses for a single trade, terming it exploitative. They said this system is creating confusion and encouraging corruption.
Leaders from various markets — including Ahmed Khan of F-10 Markaz, Waheed Cheema of I-8, Asad Aziz of Jinnah Super, Raja Hassan Akhtar of Blue Area, Azhar Iqbal of Melody, and Irfan Chaudhry of Steel Market — unanimously condemned the recent wave of “looting in the name of regulation.”
They further alleged that traders are being dragged to police stations, ridiculed, and humiliated over minor issues. The Food Authority was also criticized for imposing fines without proper laboratory testing and for lacking trained staff in public dealing.
The trader representatives have made it clear that no trade license will be accepted without official notification, and they have urged the government to immediately halt the harassment of small businesses, warning that the patience of the trader community is wearing thin.
Read more: Argentina receives $42 billion from IMF, World Bank, IDB
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.