LAHORE, Oct 15: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry zonal chairman Azhar Saeed Butt has announced that traders of Punjab will observe a complete shutterdown strike on Oct 25 to protest against the worsening law and order situation, energy crisis and terrorism.

Making the announcement at a meeting of the zonal committee here on Wednesday, Butt, who is also the president of Qaumi Tajar Ittehad, said the country was facing a serious crisis due to terrorist activities. Bomb blasts had become the order of the day in Fata and the NWFP. The economy was on the verge of collapse due to the deteriorating law and order situation.

He said depreciation of the rupee was affecting the economy adversely due to the failure of the government to stabilise the value of national currency. The government had failed to solve the problems being faced by the masses. It was also giving a step-motherly treatment to business community.

The Trade Organisation director-general had not issued licences even to the trade bodies which were more than 70 years old despite the fact that

Trade Organisation Ordinance had not been presented in the parliament and had lapsed.

Customs Clearing Agents Association president Khwaja Shahid had been beaten by the Collectorate of Customs staff at the Lahore dry port. The government should suspend the collector of customs and order an inquiry into the incident.

The meeting was also attended by former FPCCI president Iftikhar Ali Malik, Rehmatullah Javed, Khwaja Khawar Rashid, Nadeem Bhatti, Tahir Malik, Adil Mahmood, Usama Ahsan and Haji Azizur Rehman Chan.

LCCI: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to take immediate measures to control the deteriorating law and order situation affecting the investment climate adversely.

Voicing the demand in a statement issued here on Wednesday, chamber president Muhammad Ali Mian and senior vice-president Mian Muzaffar Ali said the government should not only increase police patrolling but also strengthen its intelligence network for ensuring an effective law and order control.