CM assigns a tough task to himself:businesses to open and close early

Shah wants markets to open at 9am and close at 7pm; one-dish tradition at wedding ceremonies to be revived

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah wants to be considered a man who means business and has now assigned to himself an uphill task: he has decided to develop a system under which business activities would start in the morning and end in early evening hours. 

“This habit of starting business day [late] at shops and markets would be brought to an end” and the system of opening businesses early that operated all over the world would be enforced, he said while addressing a programme organised by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) at the chamber’s building on Wednesday evening. 

Shah, who recently replaced Syed Qaim Ali Shah as the chief executive of the province as part of his ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s plan to prepare itself for the next general elections due in 2018, said that breaking the old habits he as the chief minister started his day early in the morning and then his cabinet members and bureaucracy followed suit, and now the businessmen and traders had to follow it by opening their shops and markets right in the morning at 9am and then close in the evening by 6 or 7pm. 

“I need your support for the purpose because I know the actual resistance could come from your side,” he said, addressing the office-bearers of the chamber. 

Shah also announced that proper timings for marriage halls would be introduced and the one-dish tradition for valima/marriage functions revived. “The concept is to reduce the financial burden of poor people,” he said. 

Talking about pomp and show, he said he did not believe in protocol. “I am a simple person and only believe in living simply,” he said and added that he was working hard to serve the people and not to disturb or annoy them with his presence. 

Talking about Karachi, the chief minister said that he was born in Karachi Karachi and had seen the glories and deterioration of his city. “I have walked in those streets and main roads where you [Karachiites} have gone through. I have given ownership to this city and have launched Rs10 billion 18 projects and those would be completed by December this year.” 

He again criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and said that it forced the government officers not to work. “When you (bureaucracy) stop your work definitely, there would no case against you. This is the case that bureaucracy has voluntarily stopped to sign files. This is the case of MD SSGC and now nobody is going to take over [the responsibilities of the MD].” 

The chief minister said that he was improving the traffic system in the city. In the first phase, infrastructure of the city was being improved and then a proper traffic plan would be implemented and one-way roads designated for smooth flow of traffic. 

“We are going to complete the bulk water supply K-IV project within two years and by the time its second phase would be started.” 

Shah said he was keen to develop city on a war footing, but “government rules and procedures are so lengthy and gruesome that they take time to conceive, approve and then execute a scheme.” He added that the private sector was efficient because it had to do each and everything on its own and with its own money, whereas the government spent public funds. “This is the difference,” he said. 

He announced a committee would be formed under the law adviser to review the old labour laws and laws to recover the professional, Sessi and EOBI taxes. Also on the committee would be KCCI representatives, he said. Shah directed SRB Chairman Alamuddin Bullo to sit with the chamber’s representatives and settled their double taxation issue. 

He offered the KCCI members to come over and adopt schools which they wanted to. He also urged them to adopt roundabouts and parks of the city and to beautify them. “This is our collective responsibility to make this city beautiful and environmentally upgraded,” he said. 

The chief minister, replying to a question, said that he was taking steps to make sustainable peace in the city.