RAWALPINDI: The business community has demanded that the district administration should establish industrial and economic zones along the proposed Rawalpindi Ring Road where wholesale markets and bus terminals were to be shifted.

The demand was made at a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali who visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Thursday.

RCCI President Nadeem Rauf briefed the deputy commissioner on the ongoing activities of the chamber. He said industrial and economic zones should be set up around the ring road. “Otherwise, the ring road will not be useful and will remain just a road.”

He said by shifting the wholesale markets and bus/truck terminals along the ring road, traffic flow in the city can be reduced. He said that there was a dire need to shift the bus terminals outside the city areas.

The meeting also discussed construction of Rawat Industrial Estate link road, removal of encroachments city and traffic congestion, construction of new parking plazas and widening of Kutcheri Chowk.

He also apprised the deputy commissioner of his concern over the rising crime rate in the city.

The DC said the purpose of the visit to the chamber was to get input and suggestions from the business community related to the problems faced by them.

He offered to the chamber to appoint a representative to monitor the progress of the ring road project and a member in price control committee.

He said the physical survey of Leh Expressway was underway and the traders should give suggestions.

Group leader Sohail Altaf said Rawalpindi should be made a model city. Rawalpindi has an important strategic location. Kashmir, KP, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan are an important connectivity for an economic corridor.

With the establishment of industrial zones along the ring road, he said, the local industry will flourish. An expo centre should also be set up in Rawalpindi, he added.

Representatives of Anjuman-i-Tajiran also expressed their views about encroachments in the city, parking and traffic issues due to heavy vehicles.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021