FAISALABAD. Sovereignty of elected trade bodies, including chambers of commerce and industry (CCI) across the country would be fully preserved in order to facilitate the business community by strictly adhering to the regulatory laws concerned, Directorate General of the Trade Organizations (DGTO) Regulator Azhar Iqbal.
He was addressing a meeting of the office bearers and executive members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI).
He said that the chambers were actually voluntary organizations those are managing their affairs efficiently. The DGTO did not want to poke unnecessarily its nose into the domain of the chambers, he added. “No doubt there is a delicate system of check and balance but DGTO was reluctant to take any action and it was reflective from the fact that he has not appointed even a single administrator in any chamber of country during his tenure,” Iqbal said.
He said that things were moving in the right direction. However, sometime DGTO has to take unpleasant decisions on the complaints received by his office.
He also mentioned that there was no intervention in this directorate and he was free to make independent decisions. He asked the participants of the meeting that doors of his office were always open and they could get any type of facility by just making him a phone call.
Speaking on increasing the tenure of elected office bearers from one to two years, he said that it would be decision of the chambers and in this connection a written application should be moved through FPCCI. He assured that he would not raise any objection as he believes that the business community has to take such decisions at its own.
Regarding trade delegations to various countries, he said that it was actually a short cut to export promotion. It should be a long term policy as it could yield results within next 10-15 years. He suggested that Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) should fund the various CCIs for organizing sector specific expos instead of sending small trade delegations to different countries. The government role should be restricted to monitor their performance and efficient use of the public money, he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, FCCI acting President Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain briefly introduced Faisalabad and FCCI and said that it was playing a dynamic role for the welfare and well being of the business community in addition to contributing its role for the uplift of the city. He underlined the importance of connectivity for the promotion of industrial and commercial activities and said that due to the sincere and dedicated efforts of FCCI, various international airlines have started direct flights from Faisalabad and now at least 58 flights per week are operating from this city. He also commended the efforts of Mian Muhammad Adrees as former President FPCCI and said that he has done excellent job at the Federation level for the resolution of problems confronted by the business community.
He said that Mian Adrees has played a positive role of bridge between business community and the Government of Pakistan and it was in this respect that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif visited FPCCI twice during his tenure as President FPCCI.
Commenting on the energy crisis, he said that FCCI being Board Member of FESCO played an important role and ensured uninterrupted electricity to the industries. He also lauded the role of local businessmen who were generously donating funds for the welfare of have-nots. He said that FCCI had so far donated Rs 80 million for the welfare of flood and earthquake affectees etc.
