KARACHI: Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair has assured that a meeting between Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) along with other relevant officials will be called soon at Governor House in order to discuss and resolve the issues being faced by the business and industrial community of Karachi due to massive discretionary powers and constant harassment by FBR officers.
Governor Sindh gave the assurance to a delegation of Karachi Chamber, which was led by Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli during a meeting at Governor House on Tuesday.
Besides Siraj Teli, KCCI delegation also comprised of Vice Chairman BMG Tahir Khaliq, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, Former Presidents KCCI AQ Khalil, M. Haroon Bari, Haroon Agar & Younus Muhammad Bashir, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders-KCCI Majeed Memon, Chairman Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition Muhammad Idrees and Former Vice President KCCI Nasir Mehmood.
KCCI delegation, while expressing deep gratitude to Governor Sindh for holding candid discussions, said that they were really impressed to listen to Governor’s thought-provoking ideas and prudent opinion on how to create an enabling business environment and improve the standard of living in Karachi, which is the financial and industrial hub of Pakistan.
They appreciated Governor’s full support and cooperation to Karachi Chamber and assured the same from KCCI’s platform. “We highly admire your willingness to take up some of the most critical taxation-related issues with FBR and numerous other issues with concerned quarters at the federal level”, they added.
KCCI delegation drew the attention of Governor Sindh towards constant harassment being suffered by the business and industrial community of Karachi because of massive discretionary powers conferred to FBR officials even at lower level. Unnecessary raids were being conducted to harass businessmen and industrialists whereas the situation has terribly shattered the confidence of entire business community, they added.
KCCI delegation also invited Governor Sindh to inaugurate Karachi Chamber’s 14th My Karachi Oasis of Harmony Exhibition scheduled to start at the Expo Center from April 7, 2017. They informed that this three-day long event was regularly being organized since 2004 when Chairman BMG Siraj Teli came up with a brilliant idea to promote the positive and soft image of Karachi. With the passage of time, My Karachi Exhibition has succeeded in earning nationwide and international recognition and it was a matter of pride that My Karachi Exhibition was being attended by more than 1 million visitors every year, they added.
In response, Governor Sindh immediately accepted the invitation to inaugurate 14th My Karachi Exhibition in April and also assured to visit Karachi Chamber in March as well so that the issues being faced by business and industrial community could be discussed in detail.
KCCI delegation hoped to see much closer and improved relations between Karachi Chamber and the Federal government during Muhammad Zubair’s tenure as Governor Sindh.
