New trade body ‘Kashmir Trade Alliance’ formed, Aijaz Shahdhar elected as President
Senior Trade leader Aijaz Shahdar on Wednesday unanimously got elected as President of Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA). At the occasion he avowed its stand that the union has been formed with an aim to revive ailing economy and also to address unresolved issues of traders.
According to statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), a convention was held in Srinagar which was participated by traders and shopkeepers associated with different unions. During convention several issues were deliberated upon pertaining to traders. Particularly post-August 2019 was discussed thoroughly and the sufferings faced by people associated with trade were taken up.
At the occasion, in the backdrop of ailing economy of Kashmir that has worsened, a new body – Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) – was formed. Association likes Jammu and Kashmir Trade Chamber, Kashmir Traders Centre and Anjuman-e-Behbood-e-Tajiraan, besides others decided to merge into Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA). During the convention, trade leader Aijaz Shahdhar was unanimously elected as the KTA President.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahdhar called for unity among the traders’ fraternity. “During the September 2014 floods, we suffered losses worth one lakh crore rupees. Later, we suffered on account of the unrest in 2016 and then in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year. Given that the foundation of the world economy has been shaken during the past four months of Covid-19 lockdown, one can imagine how much the businessmen in Kashmir have been going through for the past three decades”, Shahdhar said.
“Unfortunately, issues of ordinary shopkeepers and traders are sidelined and a few self-centered persons use them for their own interests. Therefore, we decided to form the KTA that will stand shoulder to shoulder with the shopkeepers and traders and highlight their problems and work for the redressal of the same”, he said.
The KTA President said, being the head of amalgam, my priority will be to work towards reviving the economy and take steps to improve the financial conditions of small-time shopkeepers and traders.
“The present trade leaders should be made answerable. However, the KTA will be at the forefront to resolve the issues facing the traders and shopkeepers”, he added. (KNS)
