Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari applauded the government's intention to fix business hours in order to preserve energy, but he suggested that the schedules be chosen after consulting with businesspeople. Presiding over a meeting of the ICCI Traders Committee, he insisted that the business hours be decided upon after consultation with the chambers of commerce, trade groups, and the business community in order to conserve energy and safeguard commercial operations from additional harm.

The government was urged in a unanimously approved resolution to consult fully with chambers of commerce and trade organisations before making any decisions about business hours.According to group leader Khalid Iqbal Malik, the country's imports have all but ceased, and major industrial facilities are shutting down as lack of dollars is making it extremely difficult for the business sector to import items and raw materials.

In such a circumstance, the government should avoid making snap judgements and instead urgently develop a comprehensive strategy to resuscitate the economy in consultation with all stakeholders. He suggested that a gathering of traders from the federal capital be held in order to give suggestions for the revival of economic operations that would be presented to the government as a group.

Convenor Traders Committee and former Senior Vice President ICCI Khalid Chaudhry said that traders consume the most costly power during the evening peak hours, since they must spend about Rs 55 per unit during these times. He said that while the government's desire to save energy is a commendable endeavour, a fall in power use during peak hours may result in a loss in the government's earnings from the sale of electricity. He urged the administration to avoid making unilateral choices and instead concentrate on working out a resolution to this issue via dialogue with all parties involved.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk