Srinagar, 26 May: Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) on Sunday held a meeting here at its central office in Auqaf Market, Srinagar, which was presided by its caretaker president Mohammad Yaseen Khan. The meeting was attended by scores of market heads and senior members of the Federation.
Many urgent concerns regarding the severe challenges that traders are currently facing were discussed, a statement issued to Ziraat Times said.
Khan detailed the multifaceted issues plaguing the business environment, attributing the decline in trading activities to primary factors like ‘persistent harassment’ from the State Taxation Department and the deplorable state of the roads.
Khan emphasized that traders are subjected to continuous and ‘unwarranted harassment’ by the State Taxation Department. “The department’s aggressive tactics and excessive scrutiny are creating an atmosphere of fear and oppression,” Khan stated and said that frequent and arbitrary inspections, hefty fines are making it increasingly difficult for traders to operate their businesses smoothly. This harassment not only disrupts daily operations but also adds financial burdens through unjust penalties and compliance costs, he said.
Khan highlighted that, “deteriorating road conditions owing to Srinagar Smart City are adding to the traders woes across the downtown and civil lines. The roads are in a pathetic state, riddled with potholes and inadequately maintained. The poor infrastructure is not only affecting the movement of goods but also deterring customers from visiting markets. Traders are facing delays in deliveries, increased transportation costs, and damage to their merchandise due to the bad roads. These factors collectively contribute to a significant decline in business efficiency and profitability”.
The combination of these two issues is having a crippling effect on the local economy. Traders are experiencing reduced sales, increased operational costs, and a growing sense of insecurity regarding their business future. Khan pointed out that if these issues are not addressed promptly, many traders might be forced to shut down their businesses, leading to a loss of livelihoods for many families dependent on this sector.
He also called on the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to alleviate these problems. Addressing these issues is essential not only for the welfare of the traders but also for the overall economic health of the J&K, Khan observed. He urged for a more trader-friendly approach from the State Taxation Department advocating for fair treatment and support rather than harassment. Additionally, he appealed to the C.E.O Smart City for urgent repairs and maintenance of the road infrastructure to facilitate smoother business operations.
Besides Khan, various Bazar Committee Presidents and senior members of the federation who were present in the meeting include Bashir Ahmad Rather, Riyaz Ahmad Kachkar, Shabir Ahmad Naqash, Peer Intikhab, Firdous Ahmad Ganie, Javaid Ahmad Bujja, Nisar Ahmad Shahdar, Abdul Majeed Khan, Rafiq Ahmad Zargar, Haji Mehrajuddin(Mars), Feroz Ahmad Masoodi, Faheem Ahmad, Peer Imtiyaz , Qazi Tauseef and many others.
