The elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) were held without the approval of elections rules by the regulatory authority. This is the main thrust of the reply sent to the Director Trade Organisations (DTO) by FPCCI Managing Committee Member Sardar Muhammad Ashraf Khan, who was a candidate for the office of the president in the 2005-06 elections. The request for intervention was sent to the Prime Minister in January 2005 which was forwarded to the Commerce Ministry for necessary action.
The DTO had informed on March 16 that post-election complaints received under section 9 2 (e) of the Trade Organisation Ordinance (TOO)-1961 "shall be attended to in due course of time."
Responding to DTO's letter, Sardar Ashraf, in his letter sent on March 25, clarified that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister on his query about the affairs of the FPCCI. "The Commerce Ministry instead of overseeing the smooth functioning of the trade bodies has kept its eyes closed on the happenings thus diluting its role in attending to complaints only. It has completely ignored the basic flaws/distortions in the structure, legal framework, and administrative system of the highest trade body of the country", he added.
He has pointed out that the Article of Memorandum of Association of FPCCI is full of mistakes, inconsistencies and contradictions of all sorts. The FPCCI management has never bothered to fulfil the corporate compliance required by law as a body incorporated under Companies Ordinance. The violation of these laws attracts heavy penalties by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
Copies of the letter have also been sent to the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Commerce Minister and the Commerce Secretary.
HE HAS SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING TO REGULATE THE INSTITUTION:
(i) By appointing a neutral administrator to carry out screening of fake trade bodies and nominations;
(ii) Putting in place legal framework as per international standards for trade bodies;
(iii) Bringing transparency, fairness, and impartiality in the working of the FPCCI, and
(iv) Reform the institution in consultation with major chambers, associations, and corporate sector to open these institutions for real representatives of business community of Pakistan.