The Central Organization of Traders Pakistan celebrated its sixth foundation anniversary with a series of ongoing events in Islamabad. The organization’s President, Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry, presided over the ceremony and commemorated the occasion by cutting a celebratory cake, accompanied by several leading traders and association representatives.
Prominent traders and officials attending the event included Zia Ahmed Raja, the spokesperson for the Central Organization of Traders Pakistan, Malik Sifat Mehmood, Vice President of the Traders Welfare Association I-10 Markaz, and Haji Allah Rakha, Chairman Traders Welfare Association I-10 Markaz. Also present were Gul Zareen Abbasi, Iftikhar Butt, Yawar Abbas Paracha, Yasir Abbasi, Shaheer Ali, Muhammad Naseer, Ansar Mehmood, Mohibullah Khan, Shahid Hussain, among various others.
Speaking at the occasion, President Kashif Chaudhry congratulated trader leaders and emphasized the unity among traders across Pakistan, noting that their solidarity has consistently prevented any compromises on their rights. “Thanks to our unity and collective strength, no authority has dared attack or infringe upon the rights of traders,” he said.
Highlighting past experiences, he mentioned that whenever the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) or any provincial or federal authority sought to enforce policies detrimental to traders, the organization firmly defended traders’ interests. “Businessmen have always been committed to fulfilling their tax obligations. However, when our fundamental rights have been targeted, we have proven that we know how to protect our legitimate interests,” he asserted.
Chaudhry further stressed the necessity for the government to include traders and other relevant stakeholders during the policymaking process. “Economic policies must be formulated realistically and based on ground realities,” he stated. Without proper consultations leading to sound, fact-based policies, conditions cannot improve, he warned.
In addition, he called for an end to the practice of providing unjustified privileges and incentives to the elite, bureaucracy, and ruling officials. Chaudhry demanded equal treatment and insisted that traders and the public should no longer bear the brunt of economic sacrifices while influential segments continue to enjoy lavish benefits.
