Zahid Maqbool, President, office bearers and all Executive Members of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in a meeting showed great concern over damages to business outlets in Karachi caused by acts of terrorism, arson & plunder. They strongly condemned the suicide attacks on Muharram processions in Karachi and Muzaffarabad in which many precious lives have been lost.

Zahid Maqbool said Karachi is the commercial hub of Pakistan and any act of terrorism in the cosmopolitan city creates a ripple effect throughout the country as it shatters the confidence of domestic and international investors. Therefore, government should take extra security measures to avoid repetition of such incidents, which cause heavy damages to business & economic activities.

He showed extreme disappointment over setting on fire more than 1500 shops in Karachi by miscreants which has deprived large numbers of businessmen of their livelihood. He said government should come forward to help these businessmen by compensating them for loss of their businesses. 

He said already on account of multiple factors, businessmen are facing problems in promoting business activities due to which our economy is struggling and such incidents, particularly in the business hub of the country will further cripple the economy. Therefore, a concrete strategy should be worked out to ward off such occurrences.

ICCI President said these are testing times for Pakistan and we as a nation should show a sense of responsibility and maturity in such tragic moments. He said by burning and damaging shops and public properties, miscreants render no service to the country, rather they further weaken the economy and serve the cause of those who are bent upon damaging Pakistan.

They condoled with the bereaved families, prayed to Almighty Allah to keep the departed souls in eternal peace and expressed full sympathies with the businessmen of Karachi for suffering great business losses due to these unfortunate incidents.