September 15, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 2, 1428

SIALKOT, Sept 14: Businessmen have expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the district and have urged Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to establish a special police force in the district besides enhancing the number of existing police personnel.

They have also vowed they would bear additional expenditures to be incurred on setting up of a special force or revamping the existing police force in the district.

Talking to reporters here the other day, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Sheikh Abdul Waheed Sandal said the district had become a safer haven for criminals and anti-social elements and demanded that the outlaws should immediately be clamped down.

The SCCI president also expressed concern over the rising crime ratio and said mostly traders, industrialists and exporters were falling prey to culprits, which was hampering mercantile activities.

He alleged that the police had failed to provide security, especially to businessmen, enabling them to work with full devotion and dedication to enhance exports and boost the economy.

He urged the chief minister to ensure that police pickets were monitored by senior police officers and that installation of such pickets was not adding to the troubles of the common men.

The SCCI president voiced for keeping a check on record of all rent-a-car and rent-a-motorcycle outlets throughout the district.

Sandal said traffic rules’ violations were causing mess and hours-long traffic jams in the city’s congested business and residential areas had become a daily routine. This situation was also affecting trade activities, he added.

He said a majority of the traffic signals in the city were out of order and the traffic police and other authorities concerned, including the Tehsil Municipal Administration, had not taken any action despite several complaints.