ISLAMABAD: A delegation of local traders led by Chairman ICCI Traders Welfare Sub-Committee Khalid Chaudhry and Secretary Traders Action Committee Islamabad called on Senior Vice President Muhammad Naveed and Vice President Nisar Ahmed Mirza, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and apprised them of the problems being faced by the trading community due to absence of a rent control law in Islamabad.
Addressing the delegation, Muhammad Naveed said that promulgation of a new rent control act for Islamabad was a long-standing demand of traders due to its non-availability and rent disputes of traders were on the rise which could create many problems.
He said that a draft of a balanced rent law was prepared with the efforts of ICCI in coordination with other stakeholders and MNA Mian Abdul Manan had presented its draft bill in the National Assembly long time ago, but it has not been passed into law as yet. He called upon the government to play a role for early passage of the said draft bill into law from the parliament to save the local traders from further problems.
Nisar Mirza said that the chamber would fully support the future course of action finalized by local traders to pressurize the government for promulgation of new rent law in the capital. He said due to the absence of the said law, traders were feeling insecure and it was not possible for them to promote business activities with peace of mind.
Speaking at the occasion, Islamabad Chairman ICCI Traders Welfare Sub-Committee and Secretary Traders Action Committee Khalid Chaudhry said that representatives of all markets in Islamabad have decided to resist forced expulsion of traders from shops and urged that Chamber should play a role for new rent law to resolve this issue once for all. He said that the traders would address a press conference soon on this issue in the National Press Club and invited the office bearers of ICCI to join the said press conference.
He cautioned that if promulgation of new rent law further delayed, it would create more problems for traders and could disturb the peace of the city. He assured that traders would fully support the ICCI in its activities aimed at resolving the rent control law issue in Islamabad.
