By IANS,
Islamabad : The federal government must declare Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as war-affected and compensation must be announced for those killed in terror attacks, the provincial government and the business community have demanded.
The demand was made at a meeting of a 200-member group of traders with Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti in NWFP capital Peshawar Tuesday.
The traders’ group was led by officials of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
Pakistan has been hit by a spate of terror strikes, many of which have taken place in the NWFP. One of the worst terror attacks in the country took place in a crowded market of Peshawar Oct 28 when a massive bombing left over 110 people dead.
The army is continuing its assault in mountainous South Waziristan against heavily armed Taliban guerrillas. The Taliban, which has vowed to retaliate — especially over US drone strikes — has dramatically increased terror attacks across the country.
Tajir Action Committee president Haji Haleem Jan told The News that they briefed Hoti about the difficulties the business community was facing in the wake of terror attacks.
He said the traders also sought relief in taxes and the chief minister told them that Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tareen would be asked to visit the province to listen to their concerns.
Earlier, the chief minister said the provincial government had approached Islamabad to announce relief package for the business community and declare the province war-affected, the media report said.
The chief minister announced the establishment of a task force to work in close contact with the business community and ensure financial assistance to affected businessmen, traders and victims of Peshawar blasts.
Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain presented a resolution, which was unanimously endorsed by the traders’ body, asking the federal government to declare the frontier province war-affected and approve a compensation package for the business community.