"It is high time that all three tiers of the government including the federal, provincial and local governments must give precedence to the issues being suffered by the business & industrial community of Karachi which contributes around 70 percent to the national exchequer and more than 95 percent to Sindh Revenue Board," said President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan.
He stressed that KCCI has dedicatedly been serving the entire business & industrial community of Karachi without any discrimination of caste, colour, creed and even the size of the business hence trade bodies and associations from all the markets must come forward and bring issues to Chamber's notice so that strategies could accordingly be devised in consultations with all stakeholders to get these issues amicably resolved.
Exchanging views at various meetings with delegations from Saddar Alliance Market Association, Karachi Iron & Steel Manufacturers Association, All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, All Iron & Steel Merchants Association, All City Tajir Ittehad, Karachi Sarraf & Jewelers Association and Sindh Auto-parts Scrap Importers & Association, Agha Shahab stated that keeping in view the deteriorating standard of doing business and immense problems being faced by the business community, KCCI will try its level best to get the issues resolved so that an enabling business environment and a level playing field could be ensured.
Talking to a delegation from All City Tajir Ittehad led by its President Hakeem Shah, President KCCI stated that KCCI Office Bearers assist everyone who climbs the Chamber's stairs for assistance purely on the basis of merit under the specific guidelines by Chairman BMG Siraj Kassam Teli. "We leave not a single stone unturned and try our best to get the problems resolved as soon as these are brought to our knowledge and we find them genuine," he added.
Commenting on concerns expressed by the affectees of anti-encroachment drive, he urged the government to construct maximum number of markets and plazas at easy accessible locations in different parts of the city with a view to provide relief to perturbed affectees.
He further assured that numerous issues including law & order, sewerage problems, dilapidated road infrastructure at almost all the commercial markets, relocation and possession of new shops to the affectees of anti-encroachments drive, grievances caused by Qabza mafia and harassment by FBR officials will be taken up by KCCI with relevant authorities and all out efforts will be made to get them resolved as the SMEs, Cottage Industries and Small Traders play a crucial role in the economic development. Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from Karachi Sarraf & Jewelers Group led by its President Haroon Chand, President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan pointed out that the Gold, Gems & Jewelry sector plays a very vital role in the development of any economy hence this important sector must not be ignored and given special attention while all their issues should be prioritized by the government. "Splendid gems and jewelry products are being produced in Pakistan but unfortunately, we are unable to enhance our exports mainly due to lack of support," he added.
He advised the stakeholders of bullion sector to come forward, avail KCCI's membership and actively participate in Chamber's activities and meetings so that their problems could get highlighted and subsequently be brought to the notice of relevant authorities with a request to resolve the same. He also underscored the need to use state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technologies to extract and add value to precious gems, besides pursuing an effective marketing strategy to enhance the exports of precious gems and jewelry products.
Discussing numerous issues with a delegation from Sindh Auto-parts Scrap Importers & Dealers Association led by its President Muhammad Ali Qureshi, President KCCI stated that the objective to frequently hold meetings with numerous associations of small traders is to unite all of them under KCCI's platform and fully facilitate them in resolving their issues. "As Chairman BMG Siraj Teli and KCCI strongly believe that small traders are the back bone of economy, hence, we are paying special attention to their issues and remain available to all of them 24/7 without any discrimination."
Exchanging views with a delegation from Saddar Alliance of Market Association led by its President Talat Mehmood, Senior Vice President KCCI Arshad Islam stressed to make collective efforts and remain fully united under KCCI's umbrella so that the common issues pertaining to CNIC condition, sales tax, poor infrastructure and lack of civic facilities etc. could be taken up with relevant quarters and resolved as per aspiration of business community.
Talking to a delegation from Karachi Iron & Steel Manufacturers Association led by its President Shamoon Baqir Ali, Senior Vice President KCCI Arshad Islam, while referring to the policies and measures taken by the FBR, said that these have been taken with an intention to document the economy but all these policies and measures should have been implemented in numerous phases whereas the business community should have also been well-informed and educated via awareness sessions about the positive and negative impacts of the steps taken.
In response to concerns expressed by members of delegation from All Pakistan Organization for Small Traders & Cottage Industries led by its President Mahmood Hamid, Senior Vice President KCCI Arshad Islam assured to take up all the issues caused due to anti-encroachment drive, harassment by KMC, FBR and Police Officials and unfair exorbitant billing charged by KE contrary to NEPRA orders.
Addressing the members of All Iron & Steel Merchants Association led by its President Hammad Poonawala, Senior Vice President KCCI Arshad Islam, while commenting on concerns expressed over exorbitant taxes on Iron & Steel importers including Fixed and Turnover tax, misuse of SROs, uneven tax on registered and unregistered buyers along with suggestions to request the FBR to announce 17 percent flat rate for registered and unregistered buyers, advised AISMA members to submit all their suggestions in writing at KCCI so that the Karachi Chamber could incorporate the same in its Federal Budget Proposals so that these suggestions could also be taken into consideration by the government.
During all the above mentioned meetings, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon assured KCCI's full support and cooperation to anyone who seeks KCCI's assistance. All 19 subcommittees at KCCI are working actively to resolve taxation, law & order, imports, exports and other issues hence, members of the business community must participate in subcommittees' meetings which provide a perfect platform for highlighting issues.
He said that the entire business community from a small trader to leading industrialist must get united under KCCI's umbrella to collectively raise one voice in the larger interest of not just Karachi but the entire country under the supervision of Chairman BMG Siraj Kassam Teli who has dedicated his entire life for the welfare and betterment of the entire business & industrial community.
Comments
Comments are closed.