ICCI, ICT collaborate to promote clean, green Islamabad campaign

Market associations granted representation in price control committees

The Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hazma Shafqaat visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and discussed the possibilities of a collaboration to promote clean and green Islamabad under the Clean and Green Pakistan Programme. He stated that under the programme, the government has set a goal of planting 10 million trees in Islamabad and the business community should come forward to help achieve this target.

He said the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has decided to eliminate the use of plastic bags to promote a cleaner environment and urged that the business community cooperate by phasing out the use of plastic bags.

The deputy commissioner said that ICT Administration has nominated Sanitation Magistrates in Islamabad and the business community should cooperate with them to ensure cleanliness in the federal capital. He agreed to give representation to ICCI and market associations in Price Control Committees. He said ICCI should hold monthly meetings with ICT Administration to resolve the issues of the business community. He also assured to take measures to resolve the issues highlighted by the business community in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that close cooperation between ICCI and the local administration was very important to resolve issues of the business community with mutual efforts. He stressed that ICCI should be given representation in the Administration’s Market Committee to safeguard interests of the business community.

Moughal further stated that ICCI and Market Associations should also be given representation in Price Control Committees of ICT Administration so that with joint efforts, prices in the markets could be kept at a reasonable level. He said in case of complaint against any trader, instead of sealing shops, the Price Control Committee should take ICCI and concerned Market Union on board so that with joint efforts such issues could be resolved. He hoped that the Deputy Commissioner would give due consideration to these issues and work alongside ICCI to help resolve them.

ICCI Senior Vice President Rafat Farid and Vice President Iftikhar Anwar Sethi lauded the Clean and Green Programme and assured that ICCI would fully support this programme to make it successful.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2019.