Traders concerned over closure of Torkham border, imposition of heavy taxes, lawlessness, crackdown by various govt deptts, and ban on wheat flour movements from Punjab to KP
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the federal and provincial governments to announce a special tax-exemption for the trading community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while keeping in view of the current economic conditions.
Speaking during a dinner hosted by Businessman Forum in honour of traders’ of Ashraf Road and its adjacent bazaars and markets here at the chamber house, SCCI President Junaid Altaf called Torkham, Kharlachi and Ghulam Khan as lifeline for the KP’ traders as their businesses and trade directly attached with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
Meeting was attended by SCCI’s senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, Businessman Forum Leader and former president FPCCI Ghazanfar Bilour, former president of the chamber and Anjuman Tajraan Lifetime President Haji Muhammad Afzal, former vice president Anees Ashraf and members of the chamber’s executive committee Saifullah Khan, Abbas Fuad Azeem, and Ihsanullah, Rashid Iqbal Siddiqui, Ihsanullah Mohmand, Faiz Rasool, Saddar Gul, Fazal e Wahid, Ishtiaq Muhammad, Secretary General SCCI Muqtasid Ahsan, and Gul Zaman, along with presidents, senior office bearers and members Ashraf Road, Reti Bazaar, Rampura Gate and adjacent bazaars and markets.
President of Ashraf Road Ejaz Hussain, Sadaqat Rambail of Rampura Gate, Taimoor Shahnawaz, Malik Inam and Rehman Gul and others on the occasion raised serious concerns over closure of trade routes, imposition of heavy federal and provincial taxes, poor sanitation, traffic system, lawlessness, street crime, unwarranted crackdown by KP Food Authority, Excise Deptt along with ban on wheat flour movements from Punjab to KP, and other issues.
Traders urged the SCCI to take up these issues with relevant authorities to remove their miseries and flourish the economic activities of the province.
Traders on the occasion highly eulogized the services of the Businessman Forum for business community and announced full support to Businessman Forum for the upcoming Sarhad chamber of Commerce and Industry Election for 2026-28.
SCCI chief maintained the commercial and trade activities have completely halted due to closure of trade routes over the past nine months that has generated massive unemployment in the province, and stressed the need of extending a special tax-holiday for KP’ businesses under the prevailing scenario.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the cost of doing business is already high in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as compared to other provinces due to being far away from seaport.
President Junaid Altaf said imposition of heavy federal and provincial taxes has elevated the owes of the trading community, now the border closure brought the trade and industrial activities completely standstill in the province.
SCCI chief while highlighting the initiatives for welfare for the members, economic growth of KP, stating that a start of art, business facilitation centre will soon open at the chamber, housing of the multiple government offices, including Police, NADRA, Traffic, Banks, WAPDA and others, aiming at providing services to the members under one-roof.
He also mentioned that a complaint cell has been established by the SCCI and asked the traders to submit issues in written form to formally take up with relevant departments to early resolve them.
BF leader Ghazanfar Bilour and Haji Muhammad Afzal also addressed the meeting and stated that the Businessmen Forum believes in selfless services to the business community and always played an integral role in resolving the issues of the trading community.
They said SCCI doors are always open for traders and urged them to vote and support to continue services to the business community under the banner of Businessman Forum in future.
Haji Muhammad Afzal during his address, expressed concern over the prolonged closure of the Torkham border and urged the provincial government to grant special concessions on property tax, KPRA tax, and other levies to help alleviate the financial burden on the trading and business communities.
At the end, Riaz Ahmed Awan, a retired Chief Officer of the District Government, was presented with a Chamber shield in recognition of his invaluable services.
