FAISALABAD: SM Muneer has quit as chief executive officer of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
Addressing a gathering in Faisalabad, he said that he would play an active role in traders’ politics and hold trader conventions across the country.
He said the United Business Group (UBG) was the true representative of the business community of Pakistan. “It has made third consecutive clean sweep in the elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI),” he said. Pakistan’s interest always remained near and dear to his heart, he said.
“As CEO of TDAP, I tried my best to plug the loopholes and curb corruption in the organisation. Corruption in the organisation has been decreased to zero over the last three years,” he said, adding that despite his best efforts some disgruntled elements were creating hurdle in the smooth functioning of this organisation.
He said that Mian Idrees, being the first elected president of the FPCCI from UBG, played his full role to revive the body and put it on the right track. He said that Mian Idrees spent Rs10 million from his own pocket on renovation of the FPCCI hall, which had been named after his father. He said that there was a time when the FPCCI was at the brink of bankruptcy and it had no money to pay salaries to its staff. However, now a splendid building of FPCCI in Islamabad has been completed and “we have enough money in our kitty to expand its activities”.
He said the manufacturing sector of Pakistan was passing through a deep crisis and this was the reason that his sons had switched to business and set up their own shops in Lahore. He said that unnecessary expenditure was checked and this helped TDAP earn profit of Rs300 million. He said that earlier an expo was arranged at the cost of Rs260 million, but “we arranged this expo at the cost of just Rs130 million”.
FPCCI President Zubair Tufail said the business community of Pakistan was passing through a critical phase. He said the new budget was around the corner and this month was very important for them to have their demands incorporated in the next budget.
Mian Idrees, former president of the FPCCI, said the business community of Pakistan was with the UBG. However, he said, the group had to take practical steps to resolve issues facing businessmen.
