ISLAMABAD: Business community of the federal capital, in close consultation with all the local market committees, has decided to form a joint committee to find a permanent and practical solution to ensure compliance with regulations concerning PET bottles and plastic shopping bags.
The business community reached this decision here on Wednesday during a meeting held at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) chaired by the ICCI president Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia.
The participants agreed to form a joint committee comprising representatives of the ICCI, market associations, traders and relevant business sectors to engage with the authorities on the subject.
Zia categorically declared that the insult, humiliation and harassment of traders would not be tolerated. He urged the relevant authorities to ensure that environmental regulations were enforced through consultation, fairness and respect for the business community.
He said the traders played a vital role in sustaining economic activity, generating employment and contributing to government revenues, and their legitimate concerns must be treated seriously.
Expressing concern over reports of raids, arrests and the sealing of business premises, he said abrupt enforcement without adequate consultation or reasonable notice created unnecessary hardship and uncertainty. He proposed that traders be given prior notices and a reasonable opportunity to rectify violations before coercive measures were considered, stressing the need for clear guidelines and effective coordination among relevant departments.
The ICCI President emphasised that the business community was not opposed to environmental protection or compliance with the law; rather, it sought workable policies supported by affordable alternatives, adequate preparation time and practical implementation arrangements.
He noted that grocery stores, dairy retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and beverage businesses had different operational requirements that must be considered before imposing restrictions on PET bottles, plastic shopping bags and other packaging materials.
He called for stronger recycling systems, public awareness and a phased transition towards alternatives, emphasizing that environmental objectives could be achieved more effectively through cooperation than through indiscriminate enforcement.
Senior Vice President ICCI, Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chattah, said the meeting had been convened to listen to traders’ concerns and develop a collective strategy for resolving the issue. He urged participants to demonstrate unity, respect differing viewpoints and pursue a practical solution through constructive engagement.
Vice President ICCI, Mohammad Waqas Khan Swati, stressed that unity among traders and market associations was essential to addressing the challenges arising from the regulations. He called for a coordinated approach under the Chamber’s leadership, emphasizing that traders’ concerns should be communicated collectively to the relevant authorities. He also underscored the importance of consistent enforcement, mutual respect and meaningful consultation to achieve a balanced and sustainable resolution.
Former President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran Ajmal Baloch, President Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran Pakistan Kashif Chaudhry and other representatives of market associations and business sectors also spoke.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026