The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has approached Chairman, National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan to revalidate Trade Organisation Ordinance - 2007 before it lapses. In a letter to the chairman, the chamber said that TOO-2007 should neither be allowed to lapse nor any changes be made in isolation without consultation with the business community of the country.
The chamber opined that the ordinance should be validated to maintain uniformity and efficiency of the trade associations. TOO-2007 was made with the consensus of all stakeholders of business community of the country, while its implementation curtailed re-registration of most non-representative, bogus chambers and associations. However, due to non-compliance in some cases, some fake bodies were still able to prevail.
The chamber mentioned that trade associations, which are the genuine stakeholders in the economy of the country, are enable to play vital role under the umbrella of ministry of commerce, while a regulatory body such as the Director-General of Trade Organisation is essential for the welfare and prosperity of local business community and commerce.
The role of trade associations is also vital for functioning of vital institutions such as the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), which largely relies on the input provided by associations, eg, trade policy proposals, formation of trade delegations, subsidised participation in trade and industrial exhibitions, and for the appropriate allocation of funds.
Regarding the establishment of associations and chambers of small traders and small industries, while they have the option to engage with the committees that are established with city chambers and concerned associations, a provision is there in TOO-2007 for doing so.
The chamber urged the chairman to take onboard all concerned bodies by calling a joint meeting for thorough discussion on specific problematic points of the Trade Ordinance so that all stakeholders may express their grievances and convey their suggestions and deliberations. It may be pointed out that during a recent meeting held with Federal Secretary Commerce, Zafar Mahmood, former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, urged for the implementation of TOO-2007 in letter and spirit.
He focused that only the genuine associations and chambers, having full compliance with TOO-2007, should be registered with Ministry of Commerce. He recalled that he and KCCI had initiated the efforts to eliminate the fake and paper-based associations/chambers and in view of such struggle, the government had appointed a Committee headed by former Justice Saleem Akhtar.
The committee had comprehensively examined the issue, while consulting with all the stakeholders across the country and submitted the report that resulted to the formulation of TOO-2007. He urged that Ministry of Commerce for strict compliance and implementation of TOO-2007.
Former Senior Vice President KCCI, Jawad Bilwani who had represented KCCI in the meeting of standing committee on commerce held on January 7, 2010 said that up till now 133 licences were issued to the trade bodies by Directorate General Trade Organisation.
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