The articles of the memorandum of association of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) are likely to be revised. The FPCCI President has requested members of the managing committee to propose necessary revisions in the articles so that the apex trade body could be made more vibrant and operate "efficiently and effectively". The proposed revisions will be put before the next managing committee meeting, which is scheduled to be held on April 30.
Although it is a belated move, managing committee members feel that the entire system of the working of FPCCI required revamping. "A massive surgery is needed to put deformed parts in order," they said.
The biggest malady inflicting the trade body is the existence of a large number of chambers and associations, which exist only on paper. Their existence has often been publicly highlighted by leading businessmen and industrialists. These fraudulent bodies are kept alive only for the purpose of seeking representation in the Federation. Unless FPCCI is cleansed of these freak bodies, real, sophisticated, enlightened and educated representation would be a distant reality.
Sardar Muhammad Ashraf Khan, member of the managing committee, in a letter to the Secretary General, FPCCI responding to the invitation to send proposals for revision, has requested that a copy of the existing articles of memorandum of association "duly approved by the Ministry of Commerce with up to date amendments incorporated in the article" should be provided to him". " Without any documents available it would be impossible for the members to suggest/propose any amendment/change in the articles," he said.
Interestingly the Commerce Secretary during his visit to the Federation House here had expressed his dismay over the functioning of the apex trade body. According to insiders, he told the office-bearers and members present that they only function as lobbyists and that the quality of representation and presentation is so poor that the Ministry just ignores the same.
He said that the Ministry had found out that the FPCCI has serious political problems and advised them to sort out these problems amongst themselves. He made it clear that the Commerce Ministry had tried to facilitate the Federation instead of invoking inherent powers regulating functioning of trade bodies.
He also reportedly gave the example of Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which remains constantly engaged in dialogue with about 120 PhDs and top economists and seek their advice on economic issues. Even the Government of India looks forward for FICCI's input on matters of national importance. FICCI's Secretary General is a known economist and is a highly regarded person.
The situation in FPCCI is just the reverse, the status and stature of the members of the managing committee and office-bearers, judged by any standards, is not of a high quality. The research department is poorly manned and except for the preparation of annual budget proposals no research paper or publication is produced. In fact, genuine, qualified and educated amongst the business community keep themselves away from the mainstream trade politics. The theory of money is in full play in FPCCI.