PESHAWAR
The president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Hasnain Khurshid demanded a holistic business environment and asked the provincial government to abolish Saturday’s holiday in government offices. The demand was made by Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad during a joint meeting of traders and industrialists, here on Wednesday.
The business community discussed the obstacles surfacing due to the closure of government offices and commercial banks on Saturday, the business community has faced severe difficulties, besides it was also badly affected trade and economic activities.
The body demanded to immediately abolish Saturday’s holiday and to facilitate the business community.
The president Khurshid said the government had decided on a two day weekend in October 2011, in wake of increasing energy crisis and austerity policy and directed to close government offices, commercial banks, and trade and commerce related institutions on Saturday.
The SCCI chief said the improvement has come in energy production to some extent in the country while sufficient electricity was also available with the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). Therefore, he said there is no justification of the Saturday holiday in government offices after availability of electricity in surplus quantity as well as overcoming the energy crisis in the country as negative impacts have brought in economic and trade activities owing to closure of government offices, related trade bodies, and commercial banks.
The business community, Hasnain Khurshid urged the government to withdraw its notification, issued in October 2011, regarding holiday on Saturday in order to facilitate the business community as well as flourish business and trade activities. Furthermore, he said the Covid-19 pandemic affected businesses and the economy of the country cannot afford anymore damages.
He emphasized that the government under the vision of Prime’s Minister Imran Khan, should provide maximum facilities at public sector trade and commerce related institutions so it can help to stabilize the national economy, besides to boost up trade and economic activities in the country.
