PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of the government to expand Peshawar Dry Port instead of shifting it to Azakhel, Nowshera.

The businessmen said that traders and industrialist would launch protest and move a court of law if their demands were not accepted.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Tajir Ittehad Peshawar president Mujeebur Rehman said that shifting of the dry port would add to miseries of the business community.

Flanked by other senior businessmen including Sardar Hussain and Zubair Gul, he said that traders and industrialist suffered due to various issues including militancy, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and lockdown for containing Covid-19.

“We have already conveyed our demands to the officials of relevant departments but they have not replied positively so far and the only option left with us is to start protest demonstrations or move court against shifting of the dry port,” said Mr Rehman.

He said that price hike affected the low income group and shifting of dry port would further increase charges on transportation of goods from Nowshera to Peshawar.

He said that business activities suffered mainly due to militancy, extortion and kidnapping for ransom incidents, however, the traders were avoiding disclosing the problems they faced in routine which also affected the local economy.

Mr Rehman said that shifting of dry port would add to problems of the exporters and importers. He suggested that government should expand Peshawar Dry Port with all facilities available in it to increase job opportunities in the provincial metropolis.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2021