Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to fully compensate all those traders who have lost their business due to a blast and resultant fire in Hussain Plaza, G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company), Islamabad  on July 14, 2010.

Mr. Zahid Maqbool, President, ICCI along with a delegation visited the site to see the factual position of business loss. Akhlaq Abbasi, President and Sheikh Razak, Senior Vice President of Traders Welfare Association, G-9 Markaz, Islamabad briefed him about the loss suffered by the traders.

They said that there was a gas leakage in the basement of Hussain Plaza and SNGPL was informed about this leakage. However, it did not take any timely action, which caused this whole incident.

They said that NGPL had sent its mechanic two hours late who was without proper equipment to control the leaking gas as a result of which the leakage later on caught fire that engulfed the whole plaza causing four casualties, injuries to 32 persons and destroying all business in the plaza.

They said Fire Brigade was also late in reaching the site though later on it managed to overcome the fire. They lamented that even the Disaster Management Department was unable to suspend electricity and gas supply to control blazing fire.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Zahid Maqbool said that government should pay appropriate compensation to the families of those who have lost their life and sustained serious injuries in this tragic incident.

He called for creating a specific fund by the government for the financial support of affected traders and ensured that ICCI will extend its full cooperation for mobilization of resources to compensate the affected traders.

He said there should be a fully equipped Disaster Management Cell and Fire Brigade service in all main commercial centres that could provide prompt service to control the situation in case of fire or any other disaster.

He said that all concerned departments should be well prepared to deal with any such untoward incident. Had they been prepared fully , we would not have faced this situation, he said.

ICCI Founder Group Chairman Munawar Mughal asked the trading community that they should also come forward and extend all possible support to the affected traders for restoring their lost businesses.