Addressing a joint press conference along with other traders’ representatives Liaquat Bagh, President of the Central Traders Association Rawalpindi and Punjab, Shahid Ghafur Pracha announced peaceful protest to be held on Feb 17 against what he termed high inflation, taxes, sealing, arrests, fines and unlawful actions by the district government officials and food authority.
Although majority of traders supported the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) the current surge in inflation, electricity and gas rates, and unrealistic price control policies have severely impacted business activities, he said.
He urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to pay attention to the grievances of the traders and direct her ministers to consult the traders’ bodies in this regard.
He highlighted that despite trader representation in the District Price Control Committee, the issued rate lists did not reflect actual market rates.
President of Rawalpindi Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets, and Bakers Association, Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry, said that traders wished to provide affordable goods to the public during Ramadan, but current expenses and official rates hinder this objective.
He also appealed to former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to play an effective role in resolving traders’ issues.
The press conference was attended by key trader representatives, including Sardar Saqib, President Furniture Association; Rana Khurram, Central Senior Vice President Central Traders Association Rawalpindi; Haji Saifullah, President Main Pir Wadhai Road; Haji Ahmed Khan, Central Restaurant Association Rawalpindi Islamabad; Malik Waqar, Fresh Malik Association; Zaheer Abbas Abbasi, President Poultry Retailers Association; Haji Farooq, Restaurant and Baker Association; Parvez Butt, President Central Grocery Association; Haji Rehat Javed, President Meat Association; Shafiq Qureshi, President All Pakistan Mutahid Non-Roti Association; Haji Atta Muhammad Khan, President Bahria Town Traders Union Rawalpindi Association; Hisham Mohsin, President Traders Association Murree Road Sadiqabad; and Javed Iqbal Qureshi, President Jamiat Al Fresh Mutton Association Rawalpindi, among others.
