Political tensions hurt business activity

[Naveed Yaseen]

By M Farhan Zaheer
KARACHI: Industrialists, businessmen and transporters have urged two mainstream political parties to shun their differences and said growing political instability in the country is tantamount to sabotaging business activity.

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Mian Zahid Hussain said the transporters were reluctant to take upcountry orders fearing seizure of their vehicles as the government was using them for blocking roads to thwart the lawyers in their bid to stage a long march in Islamabad.

He said the business community was concerned over growing political tensions between the PPP and PML(N). “Both the government and the opposition should resolve all issues on table because all current political problems are emerging at the cost of economy,” he added.

He said the economy was under serious threat and instead of helping the business community in dealing with the challenges the government was busy in coping with other problems.

“Seizing vehicles and containers for blocking the long march is hampering economic activities and may bring business to a standstill in next four to five days,” he warned.

SITE Association of Trade and Industry Chairman M A Jabbar said owing to political instability foreign as well as domestic investors had become uncertain. “If this situation prevails, local investors will be out of the scene in future,” he warned.

Karachi Goods Carriers Association President Noor Khan Niazi said the seizure of private vehicles was compelling transporters to go on a strike. He said the seized vehicles contained goods worth billions of rupees and “if any incident occurs, it will be a great loss to the transporters.

“If the government does not release our vehicles immediately, we will go on a wheel-jam strike before the long march,” he warned.

He appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene and direct law enforcement agencies to immediately release all private vehicles. He also urged the government to review its decision keeping in view the violent incidents after December 27, 2007 in which a number of vehicles containing goods were set on fire on highways.

Niazi cited Interior Affairs Adviser Rehman Malik remarks that there were intelligence reports about security threat and said “in such a situation our grievances and complaints are genuine which should be taken seriously by the government to ensure safety of our vehicles.”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=167182