Irfan Nawaz Memon, Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad said that the business community is the key stakeholder in the economic development of the country and assured that he would take all possible measures to resolve their key issues. He said that a Committee would be formed to address the issues of the business community including encroachments in markets, board tax and professional tax. He said this while addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

Irfan Nawaz Memon said that due to the consistent water boring in Islamabad, the water tables have gone very low and water shortage could develop into a serious crisis in the federal capital in future. He stressed that the business community should raise its voice against this issue for its optimum solution. He said that the business community should cooperate in curbing frauds in cooperative housing societies. He said that construction of buildings over Nullahs in Islamabad is a serious issue and stressed that the business community should cooperate in addressing this issue. He said that the business community should arrange fire alarms, fire extinguishers and water tanks in commercial and industrial buildings to cope with fire incidents and he was ready to facilitate them in such efforts. He assured that he was ready to work with ICCI in addressing the other major issues of the business community.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the various issues of the business community that needed the attention of DC Islamabad for redress. He said that instead of issuing notices to the business community for meeting tough firefighting requirements, these requirements should be revised in consultation with them to facilitate them in this issue. He said that 2 underground parking lots in Jinnah Super Market should be operationalized and shifting of courts from F-8 Markaz should be expedited to address the concerns of the business community. He said that encroachments from markets should be removed in consultation with stakeholders and pushcarts set up under Ahsaas Program should be removed from markets to a separate location. He said that the professional tax belonged to the local government and stressed that it should be suspended till the completion of election of local government in Islamabad. He said that board tax should be charged according to the gazette notification of 2014 and double the rate of contractors should be revised.

Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Khalid Iqbal Malik Group Leader, Mian Shaukat Masud, Tahir Ayub, Babar Chaudhry, Zahid Qureshi, Ch. Muhammad Ali, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Raja Hassan Akhtar, Ahmed Khan, Khalid Chaudhry, Saif ur Rehman Khan and representatives market associations also highlighted various issues for the attention of DC Islamabad and stressed for their early redress.