July 18, 2008	Friday	Rajab 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 17: Close cooperation and good working relation between the business community and the capital administration will produce conducive environment for the growth of business activities in Islamabad.

This was stated Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mohammad Ijaz Abbasi, while talking to Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad, Aamer Ali Ahmed who paid a visit to the chamber to address the business community.

Expressing concerns of the business community, Mr Abbasi said Islamabad’s traders and industrialists were confronted with many problems which were negatively affecting their business activities.

He said security was the main issue in commercial centres and industrial areas of the capital, which was a cause of concern for businessmen.

He said in the recent past, apart from bomb blasts, some car theft and mobile phone snatching attempts were made in industrial area and Islamabad, which greatly disturbed peace and security of business community.

Therefore he stressed for the need to arrange a separate security force for commercial centres and industrial areas, which should focus all its attention to provide a secure environment to business people so that they could run their businesses with peace of mind and with a sense of security.

The ICCI president said all members of the chamber and associations should be issued arms licences to protect themselves in this deteriorating law and order situation.

Moreover, he suggested that installation of surveillance cameras in key business centres and industrial areas could also beef up security in the capital city and the government should seriously consider this measure. He said apart from government servants, diplomats and foreigners inhabit Islamabad, therefore, the government should ensure strict security for them.

Mr Abbasi said there was a dire need to promulgate a fair rent control act for Islamabad, which might produce a win-win situation, both for the owners and tenants.

He said at present without a proper rent control act, business community and other stakeholders were facing problems on this account, therefore, the government should pay attention to this important issue.