Traders form body to address regulation concerns

Traders in the federal capital have agreed to set up a joint committee to find a lasting, workable way to meet rules on PET bottles and plastic bags, Business Recorder reported. The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, whose president, Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, chaired the session. The panel will include ICCI representatives, market associations, traders and other business sectors, and will engage the authorities on the issue.

Zia said traders should not face humiliation, harassment or insults, and he criticised reports of raids, arrests and sealed premises. He argued that abrupt enforcement without notice or consultation caused hardship, and asked authorities to give prior notice and a fair chance to correct violations. He also called for clear guidelines and a phased shift to affordable alternatives, saying traders were not opposed to environmental protection.

Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chattah and Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan Swati urged unity and a coordinated approach under the Chamber's leadership. Swati also stressed consistent enforcement and meaningful consultation to reach a balanced resolution. Sardar Tahir Mehmood, Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry also addressed the gathering along with other market and sector representatives.