PESHAWAR: Industrialists on Wednesday warned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of protest campaign if “illegal actions” and “anti-business” were not stopped till 28 September.
Addressing a news conference, Malik Imran Ishaq, president of Industrialist Association Hayatabad expressed resentment over the provincial government apathy toward resolution of industrialists issues, essentially unwarranted and illegal crackdowns by the government institutions, harassment of employees and imposition of double taxation in industrial estate.
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Ishaq asked the government to avoid taking such steps to intact the dignity of the taxpayers as they are playing pivotal economic development by paying hefty taxes. He said, “Industrialists are not against laws, but they are concerned over procedures of implementing rules.” Ishaq added “unlawful actions” have made it difficult for manufacturers to run their factories.
Flanked by office bearers from Peshawar, Gadoon, Hattar and Nowshera Industrial Estates, Malik Imran said that the businessmen are ready to support the government to ensure the implementation of policies and laws. However, he asked the government to pay heed to the problems of industrialists, which have adversely suffered by terrorism and now by coronavirus pandemic.
He also expressed grave over the alleged harassment, arrest of employees and workers during a crackdown by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the prevailing circumstances, Malik Imran said, factory owners, employees and workers have no other option but to go on protest. He asked the government to take a pragmatic step to mitigating the suffering of industrialists rather than creating hurdles in their legal businesses.
Imran Ishaq called for uninterrupted power and gas supply to industries, which according to him, was a constitutional right of KP under the article 158-A of the constitution. He informed that a total of 500 industrial units have been established in Peshawar industrial estate, of which 250 were fully functional the remaining are operating on 50% capacity.
He asked the government to take notice of EPA, KPRA, Excise and Taxation department, Wapda and other institutions’ “illegal” actions, warning that if they were not stopped from harassing industrialists, they will start protest movement from 28 September.