Business community fears misuse of anti-hoarding ordinance.

LAHORE -- Anti-hoarding Ordinance should not be used as a tactic to pinch the business community. Businessmen will ensure that there is no artificial shortage of rice, edibles and other commodities. These views were expressed by LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar, Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad, Chairman REAP Shah Jahan Malik, Chairman Poultry Association of Pakistan Chaudhry Muhammad Furqan, Chairman Seed Association of Pakistan Chaudhry Bilal Ahmad, Rana Salman Ahmad, President Asia Pacific Seed Association Tahir Saleemi and representatives of various other large scale sectors while addressing a press conference at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

They urged the government to define the difference between stock and hoarding to stop misuse of the recently promulgated ordinance regarding hoarding. They said that the ordinance has created unrest amongst the business community as there is no clear definition of the difference between stock and hoarding. They said that the business community was expecting that the government would take them on board and would have a consultation with the trade bodies for necessary rectification. They said that...