While addressing the traders after inaugurating a real estate office in Islamabad, Senior Vice President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI), Mr. Muhammad Naveen Malik beseeched the government to arrange the passage of rent control act from parliament within the first 100 days of its term to resolve the long-standing issue of the local traders.
He said this while reminding PTI of its promise and urged the current Finance Minister Asad Umar to honor his commitment as he had assured the local traders during his election campaign that the PTI government would pass the said amended bill into law if and when voted to power.
According to him, the local traders had been demanding the proclamation of new rent control act in Islamabad for the last three decades, but to no avail. He cited the absence of proper rent control act the reason for Islamabad being on the verge of being the most costly city of Pakistan, making it very difficult for the middle class people, especially the shopkeepers as they felt that their businesses were in jeopardy.
He further pressed on the need of a rent law by pointing out insecurity issues faced by various traders as forced eviction of traders in Islamabad continued to upsurge.
An amended bill for a balanced rent control law for Islamabad was presented in the national assembly during the tenure of the previous government, but couldn’t be passed into law, he added.
Former President ICCI Khalid Chaudhry, Jibran Gul, Sameen Sasoli, Ch. Aqib and others were also present at the occasion that took place on Wednesday.
