Business community urges govt to ensure safety, security

PESHAWAR: Industrialists urged the federal and provincial governments, chief minister, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial police chief and relevant high officials of law enforcement agencies to take pragmatic steps to ensure safety and security of lives and properties of the business community.

This was stated by Malik Imran Ishaq, president of Industrialists Association Peshawar (IAP) while chairing a meeting in the office of the association.

Malik Imran said that manufacturers have been highly upset owing to the prevailing law and order situation. He warned that they will be forced to shut their manufacturing units and shift them to other parts of the country if immediate steps were not taken for their protection.

Imran Ishaq said industrialists have received extortion calls and threats of attacks to their premises/ factories with IED, which had created a sense of insecurity and unrest among them.

The association president said government prime duty is to ensure protection and safety of lives and properties of businessmen, because economy and development cannot be flourished until and unless flourishing of industries and businesses.

He said doing business and running factories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not less than a ‘Jihad’ (holy war) while keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in the province.

Imran Ishaq said if the situation couldn’t be brought under control then the industries will be completely closed down in KP, which would trigger massive unemployment and affect many poor families, he warned.

He said the economy would be strengthened with flourishing of industries and businesses and the country will lead to sustainable economic growth, prosperity and development.

If the industrialists’ security and other issues are not be resolved on priority then the flight of capital would begin from KP, and would generate massive unemployment.

The Association president urged provincial caretaker government, chief minister, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial police chief, high officials of Home and Tribal Affairs Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and law enforcement agencies to take strict notice against extortion calls, hurling of IED on factories/ premises and effective steps should be taken for their prevention.

He called for provision of protection of lives and properties of industrialists/ business communities at every level.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023