PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Sunday welcomed the decision of federal and provincial governments to relax the smart lockdown restrictions and extend business operating hours ahead of Eidul Azha.
SCCI president Junaid Altaf, in a statement, said the government’s move reflected a firm commitment toward flourishing business and trade activities and a growth-led economy.He thanked the federal and provincial governments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and relevant authorities for listening to the concerns of the business community and reassessing the prevailing situation.
The SCCI chief asserted that it was essential to completely end the smart lockdown under the PM’s growth-led economic agenda.“The business community had earlier urged the KP government to review the lockdown timings in view of increasing commercial activity ahead of Eid,” SCCI chief remarked.
He termed the relaxation a positive and business-friendly step that would help revive economic activities while facilitating the public.The SCCI leadership hoped that the provincial government would consider extending the revised timings beyond June 1, 2026, to support businesses and sustain market confidence.
Touching upon the traders’ various issues and ordeals, Junaid Altaf said that business and economic activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had rapidly slowed down due to certain unfriendly policies, heavy taxation, and particularly the prolonged closure of the trade routes.
He added that the business community had always extended support and would continue cooperation in the future, but it was also highly imperative to announce a special relief package for the revival of industry and businesses in the KP to create further employment opportunities and economic growth. While extending gratitude to the KP government for responding positively to the genuine concerns of traders and the business community, Junaid Altaf reaffirmed his commitment to continue constructive engagement for the promotion of business-friendly policies.
