Rawalpindi Restaurant Association Meets PRA Commissioner, Urges Fair Registration Policy and Resolution of Legal Disputes
Show-Cause Notices Based on Seating Capacity Criticized by Restaurant Leaders
Rawalpindi – A high-level delegation from the Rawalpindi Restaurant, Caterers, Sweets, and Bakers Association, led by Patron-in-Chief Chaudhry Naeem, held a crucial meeting with Rawalpindi Commissioner of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), Khalid Yameen Satti, to address ongoing concerns regarding the registration of food businesses. The meeting focused on implementing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s recent directive for the mandatory registration of restaurants and wedding halls.
President of the Association, Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry, welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision and emphasized that the registration process must be applied uniformly without discrimination. Commissioner Khalid Yameen Satti reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing this vision by ensuring all food businesses, especially those generating daily sales exceeding Rs. 17,000, are registered with the PRA. He added that PRA teams are actively working across Rawalpindi’s markets to complete registrations.
Chairman of the Association, Haji Mumtaz Ahmed, proposed that data be collected from all food establishments to make the registration process transparent. He recommended issuing notices first to encourage voluntary compliance and suggested setting up a facilitation counter at the PRA office, staffed with trained personnel and legal advisors to guide business owners through the registration procedure. This, he said, would help prevent issues with institutions like the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The delegation proposed launching an awareness campaign alongside educational seminars to ensure widespread understanding and compliance. They also pledged full cooperation with the PRA in executing the campaign.
Concerns were raised regarding the PRA’s issuance of multiple show-cause notices to restaurants based on seating capacity. Farooq Chaudhry criticized this metric, noting that in today’s market conditions, many establishments operate well below capacity, sometimes achieving less than 25% business over extended periods. He mentioned that some businesses had previously obtained stay orders from courts, but the PRA has recently reopened those cases and filed appeals.
The delegation urged Commissioner Satti to address these legal matters at the Commissioner Appeals Forum instead of allowing them to escalate. They warned that if adverse decisions are made after June 30, the only remaining legal remedy would be to approach the Supreme Court—an expensive and time-consuming process that the business community is keen to avoid.
The Association called on the Commissioner to take a proactive role in resolving these financial and legal challenges to ensure the restaurant industry can operate smoothly and equitably. Other Association representatives present included Chaudhry Zafar Anwar, Chaudhry Zahid Mehmood, Saleem Raza Butt, Huzaifa Ansar, Sardar Ejaz Wilayat, Tariq Khan, and Naveed Abbasi.
