ICCI President Demands Immediate End to Islamabad Lockdown

Islamabad ( WNAM REPORT): President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has called upon the federal government to immediately end the lockdown and restrictions imposed in Islamabad, stating that the business community of the federal capital is facing severe financial losses and uncertainty while all provinces across the country have already lifted such measures.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Sardar Tahir Mehmood expressed deep concern over what he termed as discriminatory treatment towards the business community of Islamabad. He said that traders, industrialists, small business owners and daily wage workers in the capital are suffering immensely due to the continued restrictions, despite the restoration of normal business activities in other parts of the country.
He emphasized that Islamabad’s markets, commercial centers, restaurants and various business sectors have witnessed a sharp decline in economic activity, causing financial hardships for thousands of families linked with trade and industry. He said the prolonged lockdown has disrupted supply chains, reduced customer flow and created an atmosphere of uncertainty among investors and entrepreneurs.
The ICCI President questioned why the business community of Islamabad was being singled out when provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have already eased restrictions and allowed economic activities to resume. He stressed that equal treatment should be ensured for the federal capital and its business sector.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood further said that only a few days are left before Eid-ul-Adha, which is considered one of the busiest business seasons for traders and shopkeepers. He noted that the immediate abolition of the lockdown would enable traders to boost sales, recover business activity and overcome the heavy financial losses suffered during the prolonged restrictions. He added that Eid-related shopping is a major source of income for many businesses and continued restrictions would badly affect the livelihoods of thousands of families associated with the commercial sector.
He urged the federal government and relevant authorities to immediately review the situation and announce the withdrawal of lockdown measures in Islamabad so that businesses can resume normal operations and economic confidence can be restored. He maintained that the country’s fragile economy cannot afford further stagnation and the private sector must be facilitated to continue its role in economic growth, employment generation and revenue generation.
He reaffirmed that the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry would continue to raise the voice of the business community and advocate for policies that support trade, industry and economic stability in the federal capital.