Businessmen criticise NWFP government

The government of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in the NWFP is only making announcements and has failed to take any practical steps in order to solve problems confronted by the industrialists and trading communities of the province.
Talking to Business Recorder a known businessman from Peshawar said that provincial government had not left any occasion for announcing something special for business community since it had come into power. But for few days it had even forgotten to make announcements.
Citing examples, he said that on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr, Chief Minister, Akram Khan Durrani had announced ban on holding of bazaars in the name of industrial exhibitions in the city.
The ban on exhibitions was the longstanding demand of the traders and small shopkeepers of the city therefore they welcomed the decision.
Industrial exhibitions used to held in Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium, an area came under the jurisdiction of cantonment and particularly military. After announcing the decision the chief minister even uttered that the areas of Cantonment Board were also part of the province and he would raise the matter with the military officials. But after two months the business community still waiting for the issuance of the notification in this regard.
Similarly, on the same occasion, the chief minister also announced the constitution of a high level committee headed by Chief Secretary, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi to prepare a detailed report about the problems of the business community. But, it was also proved only an announcement.
The third unaccomplished announcement was the declaration of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate as Export Processing Zone (EPZ). The decision was announced in the presence of federal ministers, governor NWFP and Chief Minister, NWFP Akram Khan Durrani, but once again no notification was issued.
When Business Recorder contacted Adeel Rauf President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), he said that they had raised the matter of exhibitions on every available forum but the proper notification had not been issued so far.
Regarding the constitution of the high level committee, he said that he had talked to the chief secretary, who had agreed to constitute the body. However, a proper notification by the provincial government had yet to be issued.
He delivered same comments on the lack of issuance of notification in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate case.
It has a worth to mention here that NWFP has 1938 industrial units and out of this 600 units are non-operational or sick due to various reasons. Due to the closure of the industrial units unemployment is on rise in the province and people of the province are expecting practical steps on part of the government to resolve the issue. But, the inability of the provincial government has disgruntled not only general public but business community as well.