Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) president Junaid Esmail Makda has urged the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani and Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhter to visit KCCI at the earliest in order to respond to concerns of business community and thoroughly explain their plans for relocation at suitable alternate locations of affected people of numerous markets whose shops were completely razed during the recent anti-encroachment drive.
"To minimize the grievances being faced by the affected people, the Karachi Chamber is ready to play its due role and extend full cooperation to the government in the rehabilitation activities but govt is requested to expedite the process because the affected people are losing their patience", he added.
He said the Karachi Chamber fully understands and realizes the grievances being faced by the people affected of numerous markets whose shops were completely razed during the recent anti-encroachment drive therefore, this Chamber will never leave them alone during the difficult time and will continue its quest for their rehabilitation.
Exchanging views with the people affected of numerous markets during their visit to Karachi Chamber, Junaid Makda said, "as the office bearers have been fully assisting anyone who approaches the chamber to seek help under specific instructions of Businessmen Group chairman & former president of KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, we are striving really hard so that the affected people could get alternate places to restart their business activities in a conducive and peaceful business environment.
While appreciating the small traders for agreeing to KCCI's suggestion to postpone their sit-in outside the CM House, Junaid Makda said the Karachi Chamber never supports or favours sit-ins as they firmly believe in resolving numerous issues through table talks. "We are holding frequent meetings with Mayor Karachi and are also pursuing the Sindh Government so that the problems being suffered by small traders could be amicably resolved", he added.
Junaid Makda was fairly optimistic that the Karachi Chamber will play a decisive role in the relocation and balloting of alternate places for the affected people.
He said, "As the anti-encroachment drive has resulted in making huge number of people completely unemployed, we fear that the situation was likely to give birth to criminals, posing severe threat to the law and order situation of Karachi where peace has finally started prevailing."
Special Committee for Small Traders chairman Majeed Memon informed that they have compiled data of all the people affected of numerous markets and were in constant touch Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani and CM's Advisor Waqar Mehdi.
"We will not leave a single stone unturned and struggle really hard so that the affected people could restart their businesses", he added.
Speaking on the occasion, president of All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders & Cottage Industry, Mehmood Hamid said the families and dependents of 35,000 traders were undergoing serious starvation. "Sixteen Markets have been flattened in the anti-encroachment drive, which resulted in creating a miserable situation for many well-off traders, who have now become charity seekers from givers", he added.
General secretary of Zoological Garden market Asif Shahzad said, "Our market was neither situated on a Nullah nor it was inside the park yet this market was razed, which was a sheer injustice therefore, KCCI, being the largest Chamber and a true representative of business and industrial community particularly small traders, should raise a strong voice so that our earnings are restored."