PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the provincial government to devise a joint strategy in consultation with the business community, district administration and other relevant departments for enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) with regard to Covid control in various bazaars.

The demand was made by SCCI delegation led by its president Sherbaz Bilour during a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz here on Thursday.

According to a statement, the chamber’s senior vice-president Manzoor Elahi, secretary general Sajjad Aziz and others were present in the meeting.

The SCCI office-bearers talked about problems being faced by the business community due to raids and sealing of shops. They said that traders had been facing difficulties due to the unfavorable business environment. They said the imposition of lockdown or smart lockdown would affect the businesses.

Opposing the raids, the participants proposed that the district administration should devise a strategy to create awareness among masses of coronavirus SOPs.

Opposes raids and sealing of shops

Sherbaz Bilour said the business community would extend full support to the district administration to enforce SOPs, but it should stop the arrests and sealing of shops without first informing them about the government decisions.

He suggested that a joint mechanism should be evolved to create awareness among masses about safety steps by adhering to SOPs.

The SCCI chief asked the government to take practical measures with regard to ease of doing business.

It was stated that the chief secretary agreed to the traders’ proposals and stated that Covid-19 cases were surging in the province and the government and its departments had the duty to implement SOPs for containing the pandemic.

He asked the chamber to prepare proposals in coordination with the district administration, home secretary and other departments concerned to ensure enforcement of the SOPs and remove grievances of the traders in this regard.

Manzoor Elahi asked the government to fully exploit rich natural and mineral resources available in the merged tribal districts to stabilise the provincial economy and create job opportunities for the tribal youth.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2020