Traders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have opposed the proposed (security) ordinance (PCO) 2014, urged it should not pass from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The concerns were expressed during a meeting with Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Asad Qaiser, chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zahidullah Shinwari, held at the chamber house here on Thursday.
The meeting was also attended by Sharafat Ali Mubarak former KPCCI president, Riaz Arshad, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Malik Zahid Hussain, executive members of the chamber, and traders. Zahidullah Shinwari stressed the need for taking the business community on board before making any legislation and upholding supremacy of law. He said the traders are adversely affected due to deteriorating law and order, growing incidents for kidnapping and extortion in the province. He further said the traders have taken steps on self-basis for protection of their life and property, which has been rapidly increasing the daily expenditure. KPCCI President demanded the government to extend facilities and incentives, availed business community in other provinces. He said the situation has been worst as compared to 2010, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, so there's desperately need to extend a fiscal-relief package to terrorism affected business community, like previous one, he added. Shinwari said the business community had not taken fully advantage from previous PM-financial relief package. He also expressed concern over the proposed security ordinance 2014, asked that it should not pass from provincial assembly and the business community must be consulted in lawmaking process.
He urged the provincial government to support the Chamber and business community, in writ-petition and cases filed with the Supreme Court regarding fuel adjustment surcharges, gas infrastructure development cess and turnover tax. Asad Qaiser, Speaker KP Assembly agreed with all points of the chamber and business community, asked the Federal government to remove hurdles in the previous fiscal relief package and extend a fresh package to terrorism-hit business community of KP. In this regard, he said that a meeting will be arranged with the prime minister to properly appraise him, with all problems and reservation of the community.
About the security ordinance 2014, he informed that provincial government has constituted a meeting, in which those bills of the assembly, reviews and make necessary amendments in light of public reservations. He assured the concerns regarding security ordinance of business community would be addressed by making further amendment in the law.
