Not consulted: Pakistani businessmen criticise hoarding ordinance

Traders body official says no definition for “stock” provided

ISLAMABAD: Many things in the Prevention of Hoarding Ordinance are not clear due to which there is a great confusion among traders, said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed.

Chairing a meeting on Saturday, he demanded the government to address all concerns of the traders against the said ordinance prior to its implementation in order to save the business community from further problems.

“Business community is already in trouble due to Covid-19 and introducing a new ordinance only for Islamabad in these circumstances is not a good move,” he said.

He urged that the government, in consultation with local traders, should bring necessary amendments in the ordinance to save them from further difficulties.

Also present in the meeting, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran President Ajmal Baloch said that the ordinance stipulated three years of imprisonment for keeping stock but no clear definition of stock was provided due to which the trading community has a lot of concerns against this rule.

Every trader has to keep a stock for supply and without a definition regarding the nature of stocks, traders would not be able to conduct business in the presence of this ordinance. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2020.

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