Traders seek relief after $3m blaze loss

RAWALPINDI:

Traders affected by a fire in a local plaza have appealed to the government for assistance, saying goods worth $3 million were reduced to ashes in the blaze.

Addressing a press conference, affected trader Wajid Jan said the goods had been legally imported and taxes amounting to Rs300 million had been paid to the government.

He said 16 containers of goods stored in the basement were destroyed in the fire and had become completely unusable. "All the goods had been legally imported. For the past 40 years we have been importing goods from China, selling them here and paying taxes," he said.

He appealed to the federal and provincial governments to help the affected traders, adding that losses exceeding $3 million had been incurred.

He said the vice president of the Rawalpindi Chamber had visited the site and assured the traders that the matter and their losses would be brought to the notice of the chamber president, but no progress had been made so far.

He added that the goods destroyed in the fire were not insured. "Rescue officials worked very hard, but they had limited equipment and resources," he said, adding that there was no shortage of water during the rescue operation. On the occasion, clearing agent Liaquat Hussain said the goods that were destroyed had been cleared through proper procedures and all receipts were available.