ISLAMABAD: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Talat Mehmood has called for forming a joint platform of five to six major chambers of commerce across Pakistan, with monthly meetings on a rotational basis, to raise a strong collective voice for resolving common business and industrial issues.
Addressing a meeting hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Wednesday he said that individual representations often failed to achieve desired results, whereas a united stance by major chambers would carry greater weight before the government. He appreciated ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia for bringing leading chambers onto one platform and invited the Islamabad Chamber leadership to visit Karachi.
The meeting was attended by ICCI former Presidents, executive members, along with representatives of the trade and export sectors in large numbers. Referring to Pakistan’s economic challenges, he observed that the country’s exports stood at approximately $ 30 billion while remittances were around $ 41 billion and cautioned against excessive reliance on overseas remittances and urged the government to introduce policies and incentives that encourage overseas Pakistanis to invest in their home country and strengthen domestic economic activity.
He further proposed special facilitation for the business community including separate arrangements at airports for traders and investors and called for making digitization and institutional reforms instruments of facilitation rather than harassment.
In his remarks, ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia supported stronger coordination among major chambers and emphasized that collective efforts were essential to address common business challenges and strengthen Pakistan’s trade and industrial sectors.
He called for improved access to bank financing, better industrial infrastructure, reduced regulatory hurdles and an end to unnecessary harassment of traders and industrialists. He stressed that the business community should be treated as a key partner in economic development.
President Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry Syed Jawad Kazmi highlighted the severe impact of the prolonged closure of the Torkham border on regional trade and industry by highlighting the rich export potential of the province.
