The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday urged the District Administration to stop spreading harassment and panic among businessmen by registering FIRs on the pretext of the anti-dengue drive.
LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that the Punjab Industries Secretary held the same viewpoint that a warning should be issued at the first instance and period of seven days should be given for cleaning up their premises. He said that the latter had already taken up the matter with Lahore’s Commissioner.
“We fail to understand that on whose behest the anti-dengue staff acts when it has already been agreed to issue a warning before the registration of a case,” Iftikhar said.
“With broken roads, choked sewers and overflowing gutters on almost every road, how can the District Administration blame the businessmen for stagnant water and hold them responsible for the mess outside their factory premises,” he exclaimed.
Iftikhar said that the LCCI was continuously receiving complaints, particularly from Sheikhupura Road and the Badami Bagh area, that district administration officials were using arm-twisting tactics for the sake of point scoring and for registering FIRs against industrialists without giving them any chance.
Furthermore, he said that the LCCI understood that the anti-dengue campaign was the need of the hour, but nobody should be allowed to disrupt running businesses that were earning much needed foreign exchange and providing jobs to millions of people.
Iftikhar said that the Punjab Chief Minister should take charge of the situation and issue the necessary directions so the businessmen could continue their businesses effectively.
