KCCI irked by its absence

President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra has strongly protested federal government''s move to keep KCCI away from participating in a crucial meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday which was held to discuss numerous issues being faced by the business and industrial community of Pakistan.
In a statement issued here, Vohra stated that although some of the most pressing and serious issues pertaining to Karachi, its law and order situation, the ongoing Karachi Operation, taxation issues and high tariffs were addressed by the PM during the meeting it was a matter of grave concern for the entire business and industrial community that KCCI, which represents 90 percent of the business and industrial community of Karachi, has been ignored as not a single representative of Karachi Chamber was invited to this important meeting.
"It has become a very disheartening situation for KCCI and we fear that the honourable Prime Minister is probably being misguided either by the Ministry of Commerce or by Board of Investment or whosoever as they simply don''t want KCCI to attend such an important meeting", he added. "We have been sidelined because of our habit of speaking the truth only and today''s situation emerging after PM''s meeting has terribly discouraged us but that does not mean we will stop speaking the truth. We will continue to vocally raise voice for the rights of business and industrial community of Karachi," he added.
He reiterated that as Karachi city contributes more than 65 percent to the national exchequer thus most of the issues discussed at meeting were related to Karachi but unfortunately, the authorities deliberately ensured that KCCI does not become part of the meeting.
Vohra, while appreciating Prime Minister''s statements about the Karachi Operation, stated that law and order situation has been gradually improving but 50 percent of the operation''s objectives have been achieved so far and a lot still needs to be done with a view to ensuring long-lasting peace and stability in Karachi. He also appreciated Prime Minister''s announcement to settle refund claims and his directives to NEPRA for reduuction in electricity tariffs He urged the Prime Minister to take strict notice of KCCI''s absence at this crucial meeting by asking the concerned authority why Karachi Chamber was not invited to participate in the meeting.-PR