Hence, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), being the actual representative of the entire business and industrial community must come forward and extend its hand to the stressed and concerned shopkeepers and small traders. More than 50 representatives from different markets of Karachi, while expressing deep concerns over recurrence of Bhatta Mafia, upsurge in dacoities and such other incidents, sought Karachi Chamber's assistance so that law enforcing agencies, particularly Pakistan Rangers Sindh, could be spurred to strictly deal with the situation on top priority basis.
Exchanging views with former president KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli and acting president Abdul Basit during their visit to KCCI, small traders and shopkeepers informed that some shopkeepers have recently been detained by rangers under charges of acting as 'facilitators' which was not factually correct in many cases and it was a matter of grave concern that their distressed families are completely unaware of the whereabouts of their loved ones.
There is need to define the exact definition of facilitator so that shopkeepers and small traders could be very careful in their daily business dealings and immediately get in touch with LEAs in any such case, they added. After listening to the grievances and problems being faced by the shopkeepers and small traders, chairman BMG & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli assured his full support and cooperation in effectively dealing with the rising activities of extortionists.
He said that the Director General Pakistan Rangers Sindh Major General Muhammad Saeed will be approached by Karachi Chamber so that the issues being faced by small traders could be extensively discussed and a secure business environment could be ensured in every nook and corner of Karachi city.
He said that the incidents of robbery were being reported at alarming scale from different parts of the city and an upsurge in these activities has been witnessed particularly during the last couple of days. Robberies were frequently taking place at the houses situated near Makki Masjid in the vicinity of Adamjee Nagar in broad daylight that requires special attention and stringent measures from law enforcing agencies.
Keeping in view the strenuous efforts made by rangers towards restoring peace in Karachi, chairman BMG was fairly optimistic that the LEAs will be able to strictly deal with these extortionists as well as those who are once again making attempts to resurface and rule by fear.
He advised small traders to give nominations for a committee so that the extortion related cases could be taken up with LEAs from KCCI's platform. For the proposed Committee, Siraj Teli nominated three representatives of Karachi Chamber including acting president Abdul Basit, chairman special committee for small traders Majid Memon and chairman KCCI's sub-committee for law & order Mansoor Ahmed.
Representatives of Saddar Alliance of Markets Association, All Karachi Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Anjuman-e-Tajiran Bolton Market, Old City Alliance Markets Association, Karachi Dari & Bed Sheet Merchants, All Bide Manufacturers Association, Mithrandir Merchant Association, All Pakistan Small Traders & Cottage Industry, Mache Miani Market Association, Pak Alliance of Market Association, All Sindh Sharafat & Jewelers Association, Sheesha Akbari Market, Iron & Steel Merchant Association, All City Tahir Itehaad, Hussainabad Traders Association, Madina City Mall, Koghzi Bazaar Association and Bohra Pir Paint Association were led by Chairman of KCCI's Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon in the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017