PESHAWAR: The militancy-hit traders of North Waziristan Agency have threatened to march on Islamabad and stage a sit-in outside the parliament house for an indefinite period if the federal government does not announce a financial package for revival of businesses in the region till March 25.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, traders association of North Waziristan Agency, Mirali Bazaar president, Zareenullah said the business community of NWA had faced huge financial losses due to terrorism during the past many years.

President of Miramshah Bazaar Din Pawak Khan, vice president Mirali Bazaar Mohammad Saeed, chairman Markaz-i-Tanzeem Tajaraan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shuakat Ali Khan, traders leader Sharafat Ali Mubarak, Markaz-i-Tanzeem Tajraan Rabita Committee Peshawar Cant president Mujeebur Rehman, and others were present on the occasion.

Zareenullah said a total of 20,000 markets and shops in the three main bazaars, Miramshah, Mirali and Datakhel, had badly been damaged and traders suffered huge losses ranging from Rs5 million to Rs50 million.

The traders’ chief complained that the political administration of the tribal agency had failed to pay heed to demands of the traders.

He warned that they would go to any extent to force the government for accepting their demands. He announced that they would stage a sit-in outside Islamabad Press Club if the government failed to announce compensation package till March25.

Traders’ leader Din Pawak said they had to leave their established businesses behind in the wake of military operation Zarb-i-Azb. But, he regretted that they found their shops and markets turned into rubble on their return. He urged the government to announce a comprehensive compensation package without delay.

The traders said the government had announced compensation for terrorism-affected traders in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country, but it was yet to compensate the militancy-hit traders of NWA.

They urged the prime minister, president, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and Corps Commander Peshawar to announce a hefty compensation package for the affected traders of NWA.

Anjuman-i-Tajiran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Sharafat Ali Mubarak assured the NWA traders of extending every possible support in pushing the government to extend financial help to them.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018