PESHAWAR: The business community has asked for early implementation of the Safe City Project to ensure protection to citizens, especially traders, in order to boost economic activities in the provincial metropolis.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Moqeem Khan made the demand while speaking to senior police officials – Capital City Police Officer Qasim Ali Khan and SSP Operations Masood Bangash, who visited the Chamber House here on Friday, according to a statement.

Mr Moqeem urged the law enforcement agencies to take concrete steps for protection of the properties and lives of people to remove the sense of insecurity among them.

SCCI senior vice-president Abdul Jalil Jan, vice-president Shehryar Khan, SCCI Standing Committee for Law and Order chairman Shaukat Ali Khan, and others were in attendance.

The chamber president apprised the police officials of the traders’ concerns over increasing crime rate, including snatching incidents, extortion, growing traffic congestion, ‘punitive’ actions against traders under the guise of removal of illegal structures, and delay in implementation of the Safe City Project.

On the occasion, Shaukat Ali emphasised the need for a peaceful and friendly environment to promote business and trade activities.

The business community leaders called for avoiding ‘unnecessary’ actions against traders on the pretext of removing encroachments in the city.

They said the Industrialists Association Peshawar was ready to offer financial assistance in execution of the Safe City Project.

They said establishment of a separate police station in Industrial Estate Hayatabad had been approved, and called for its early implementation.

CCPO Qasim Ali said feasibility of the Safe City Project had been prepared. However, he said a separate security-related pilot project could be launched with the assistance of the business community.

He said seven Sahulat Centres had been established in the police stations of the city.

The CCPO assured the business community of taking every possible step for their security.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2025