Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) president Rana Shahzad Hafeez has strongly criticised the statement of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) leaders for describing the just demands of business community as agreed by the Prime Minister as "Outrageous demands".
In a press statement issued on Saturday Shahzad said the business community was thankful to the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan for the agreement reached with the FPCCI for amending the Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2006 and Rules. He said that reduction in the license renewal fee from Rs 300,000 was much relief to the small chambers and this was a big achievement of FPCCI.
He also welcomed the decision that the president of chambers would be elected by the members of the executive committee and not by the general body. This was the demand of Gujranwala Chamber. Another demand of most of the trade bodies was the two-year term of the executive committee, which has been accepted.
The opposition by KCCI leadership to the formation of small traders' chamber in the every province was understandable, as the presence of another chamber in Karachi, will pose threat to the KCCI. Another cause of their frustration is their failure to get back door entry in FPCCI as now all the chambers would get reserved seat on the managing committee of FPCCI, as previously.