RAWALPINDI, Jan 2: People, whose businesses reduced to ashes and rubble in the December 20 Gakhar Plaza fire and the building’s subsequent collapse, on Friday asked the Punjab government to provide interest-free loan to them so that they could recover from the tragedy.

The traders, who have estimated the total loss at Rs1.13 billion, sought the loan for 312 affected shopkeepers for a seven-year term.

They provided a list of these businessmen to MNA Haji Pervez Khan and MPA Shehryar Khan, who are members of the committee constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for assessing the damages caused by the fire.

Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajiran Rawalpindi Cantonment general secretary Mohammed Zafar Qadri told Dawn that the traders had pinned their hopes on the provincial government for interest-free loan.

He said a delegation of traders would also meet Finance Minister Naveed Qamar soon for seeking help from the federal government.

“We, the traders, are enraged at the attitude of the federal government which has not providing us any relief despite the fact that Gakhar Plaza comes under the jurisdiction of the federal authorities. We demand substantial compensation from Islamabad,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Syed Asad Mushadi said the chamber supported the stance of traders and would go to every extent to compensate them.