Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh government is planning to shut down markets and restaurants in Sindh between 6pm-7pm except weekends.

This was announced by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday. Exchanging views with the business community, the chief minister said that 18 development projects under the Karachi uplift package would be completed in four to six months.

Sindh Minister for Industries Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro, Former KCCI president Siraj Kassam Teli, Tahir Khaliq, Haroon Farooki, Anjum Nisar, KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir, senior Vice President Zia Ahmed Khan, Vice President Muhammad Naeem Sharif, Shamim Ahmed Firpo, members of the KCCI Managing Committee and government officials were also present.

In response to Siraj Teli’s concerns expressed over the configuration of protocol being followed by the federal and Sindh government, the chief minister said he was ready to sit anywhere during the meetings with the KCCI representatives either at the KCCI or at the CM’s House.

Referring to concerns expressed by the KCCI over the “unjust” distribution of gas resources of the province, the CM assured traders to take up the issue with the federal government in the upcoming meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

In response to KCCI’s suggestions, Murad Ali Shah agreed to formulate two committees with the KCCI representation, of which one committee will be notified for revision of obsolete labour and excise and taxation laws, whereas the other committee will look into resolving the issues being faced by indenters after the imposition of 14 percent Services Sales Tax by the Sindh Revenue Board.

He also expressed deep concern over the federal government’s apathy to the issues of Karachi which he said could be gauged from the fact that the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar did not visit the KCCI during the last three years despite being the most vibrant chamber as compared to any other chamber of Pakistan. “Unfortunately, the federal government did not take steps which it should have taken in the interest of Karachi,” he added.