Traders decide to jointly fight for legitimate rights

Business Recorder reported that the trading community in Islamabad has agreed to pursue its lawful interests jointly, using coordinated action and direct dialogue with the relevant officials. The announcement came from Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), after a Thursday meeting with business leaders from several sectors, led by Mohammad Ajmal Baloch of the All-Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran.

Zia listed power shortages, costly bills and disrupted output as hardships that convinced him chambers need one strong platform covering everyone from small shopkeepers to large manufacturers. He also said he had quickly contacted officials and trade representatives after learning of shop sealings in the capital, and he urged market bodies to act together rather than approach authorities one by one. While accepting that laws must be enforced, he called for disputes to be settled through talks and lawful procedures, with traders treated respectfully.

Ajmal Baloch voiced surprise and concern at what he called repeated new experiments in Islamabad instead of nationwide measures, saying they had badly disrupted trade. Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Chatha assured participants that the chamber would raise traders' concerns with authorities and pursue workable solutions. Any future course of action will be decided jointly with ICCI leadership.