Traders should make collective efforts to overcome challenges: Agha Shahab

KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has said that trade and the business situation has been quickly changing and it was a matter of concern and may worsen further in the days to come.

This he said while speaking at a meeting with a delegation from Anjuman-e-Tajiran Boulton Market. He said that the business community is going to face a lot of challenges in terms of doing business in the future hence; traders have to stay united and make collective efforts to overcome all the ongoing and upcoming challenges.

 Agha Shahab said that Boulton Market has the status of one of the oldest markets of the metropolis where hundreds of businessmen, small traders and shopkeepers have been running their businesses for the last 50 years.

The Karachi Chamber has always supported Anjuman-e-Tajiran Boulton Market which was formed immediately after the tragic Boulton Market inferno incident in which dozens of markets in the locality were set on fire in 2009.

Appreciating the vibrant role being played by small traders in the economic development, he said that even the wheels of industries were spinning due to the contribution being made by the diminutive traders hence the existence of small traders is just as important for the survival of industries in the city.  

 President KCCI also paid glowing tribute to Majeed Memon for striving really hard to bring all the associations of numerous markets in Karachi under KCCI’s roof with an intention to eavesdrop to their issues, search for inputs and make combined efforts for resolving the issues of the traders’ community.

Referring to concerns expressed by President Anjuman-e-Tajiran Boulton Market over the campaign started to protect the heritage buildings at Marriot Road, Agha Shahab assured to provide relief to perturbed traders of the said area.

 Leaders of the delegation while seeking KCCI’s assistance informed that the purpose of their visit to KCCI was to highlight a very serious issue being faced by the businessmen, traders and shopkeepers of Mariott Road.

They have been facing a lot of hardships as the local administration along with Heritage Department and under the supervision of Architect, Yasmin Lari have initiated a drive to preserve heritage buildings and plan to carry out beautification and establish small cabins by occupying at least three feet space on the footpath outside all the existing legitimate shops situated at Marriott Road.

Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan warned that the shopkeepers are losing their patience and they may find no other option but to come out on streets to protest against the so-called preservation of heritage buildings.

He said the steps were not happening at all but it seems that only those steps were being taken to create more problems for the legitimate shopkeepers.

Senior Vice President KCCI Arshad Islam, Vice President KCCI Shahid Ismail, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon, President Anjuman-e-Tajiran Boulton Market Rafiq Jadoon, Patron-in-Chief Anjum-e-Tajiran Boulton Market Saleem Farooqui and others were also present.