Peshawar, May 03 (ONLINE): The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) expressed outcry over illegal actions, imposition of heavy fines and harassment by the provincial Labour Department and Employees Social Security Institution (ESSI).
These apprehensions and concerns of the business community were conveyed by SCCI president Muhammad Ishaq during a meeting upon visit of provincial caretaker minister for Labour Malik Mehr Elahi here at chamber’s house on Wednesday.
Businessmen Forum leader former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, SCCI vice president Ejaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Malik Niaz Ahmad, Riaz Arshad, Adeel Rauf, Faiz Muhammad, Sherbaz Bilour, former SVPs Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Muhmmad Iqbal, former vice president Abidullah Yousafzai, secretary labour Fakhr e Alam, Vice Commissioner Social Security Department KP Ainullah, Director Labour KP, Irfanullah, executive members Haji Ghulam Hussain, Laal Badshah, Hafaf Ali Khan, Monawar Khurshid, and Waqar Ahmad, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ghulam Bilal Javed, Fazal Wadud, Fazle Wahid, Faiz Rasool, Waris Khan Afridi, Saddar Gul, Muhammad Nadeem Rauf, Rashid Iqbal Siddique, Salman Savwal, Ishtiaq Muhammad, Ashfaq Ahmad, traders, industrialist and others were present during the meeting.
Muhammad Ishaq during the meeting apprised the business community concerns about illegal actions, imposition of fines and harassment by ESSI and the Labour Department.
Upon which, the provincial minister suggested the formation of a joint committee to immediately resolve the problem faced by business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The SCCI chief while speaking on the occasion said it has been made difficult to keep business and industries function under the prevailing circumstances.
“Let the business and industry should keep function”,
Otherwise, Mr Ishaq warned the business community will be forced to take harsh steps if the policies were not reviewed.
The provincial minister assured the illegal actions, imposition of heavy fines and harassment of traders’ community would be stopped and departmental action would be initiated against those officials which were found in any mal-practices and illegal acts.
Mehr Elahi informed that the Labour Department is working to introduce a slab system for contribution to end the tendency of imposition of heavy fines/penalties.
Similarly, he said his ministry initiated a special amnesty scheme for ESSI and Labour specific issues.
The Secretary said the Labour Department has established a complaint cell through which traders’ issues would be resolved within a short span of time because the complaint cell will be directly monitored by the concerned minister and secretary.
Ilyas Ahmad Bilour also spoke on the occasion congratulated Malik Mehr Elahi for becoming part of the provincial interim cabinet and hoped that being part of the business community, the minister (Mehr Elahi) would play an important role in the resolution of the business community.
Earlier, the SCCI former presidents, senior members, senior officials of labour department and representatives of stakeholders and others also spoke on the occasion.
They have highlighted the issues of the business community related to the Labour and ESSI department.
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