PESHAWAR: The traders and businessmen have complained about the slow pace of work on the Bus Rapid Transit project, saying it has badly affected their activities.
They demanded the early completion of the initiative, removal of construction material from the roadside to ease traffic and environmental issues, and payment of compensation to those affected by the project.
The demand was made during an open forum organised by the Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry here on Wednesday.
Demand project’s early completion, compensation
Peshawar deputy commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Shaikh was the chief guest on the occasion.
Noted among speakers were Markazi Tanzeem-i-Tajiran president Malik Mehr Ilahi, chairman Haji Shaukat Ali and leaders Mohammad Ihtesham Haleem, Haji Shaukatullah, Haji Bashir, Atif Shehzad and Mansoor Bukhari.
The traders complained that work on the BRT project was very slow and thus, adversely impacting on business activities in different bazaars.
They said many traders had either closed down their businesses or shifted them out of Peshawar due to the piles of construction material and rubble lying along main roads in city and cantonment areas.
The traders called for the early removal of such material and announcement of a financial package to compensate them for the BRT-related losses.
They said the Sher Shah Soori Road had been closed for many weeks near the West Cantonment police station and thus, blocking traffic on both sides of the artery.
The traders said the traffic had been diverted to the main Saddar Road, which had caused serious environmental issues and dust.
They demanded that the government waive off their taxes until the BRT project’s completion and payment of due compensation to them.
The traders asked the traffic police to cooperate with traders during the loading and unloading of goods in shopping centres.
They also called for the implementation of an order of the Supreme Court chief justice for the opening of a gate near the Lady Reading Hospital to provide relief to the people affected by road blockades.
The traders demanded the shifting of fireworks business from the busy commercial area to a safe place to prevent untoward incident. They also opposed the illegal parking outside medicine markets in Namak Mandi area.
The traders said the sanitation workers should regularly ensure cleanliness of bazaars to eliminate dust.
Deputy commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Shaikh formed a committee to look into the traders’ demands.
The committee consisting of government officials and traders will be headed by additional assistant commissioner Qaiser Khan Kundi.
Meanwhile, the traders demonstrated at the Stadium Chowk here against the closure of roads due to the BRT construction and asked the government to step up work on the mega bus project.
Led by Mujeebur Rehman, the protesters criticised the construction firm over the roadside heaps of mud saying the dust was causing respiratory problems, road blockades, and losses to shopkeepers.
They warned that if the government failed to ensure the completion of the BRT project by May 20, then they would begin street protests.
Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2018
