Tariq Sayeed, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Committee on Trade Organisations Ordinance has said there is no uncertainty with regard to the implementation of agreement reached between the prime minister and the FPCCI delegation at a meeting held on May 11, 2007.
In a clarification issued here on Saturday, Sayeed said that he was confident that the agreed amendments would be made to the Trade Organisation Ordinance, 2006 and Rules, 2007 by the government within next few days to enable the trade bodies to file applications for the renewal of their licenses by June 15, 2007.
He reiterated that the amendments accepted were the demand of the overwhelming majority of the business community, but criticised by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), saying the Karachi Chamber leadership was frustrated as they tried to make backdoor entry in the FPCCI managing committee but failed.
Tariq Sayeed said that both the prime minister and the commerce minister have accepted the following proposals for amendment to TOO-2006 and TOR-2007:
(i) To reduce maximum fee of Rs 30,000 for new license of Chambers Rs 15,000 for Associations Rs 20,000, and Women Chambers Rs 20,000.
(ii) Executive/Managing Committee of all trade bodies would be maximum two years.
(iii) Election of the president of Chamber/Association would be by Executive/Management Committee and not by General Body.
(iv) There will be no reserve seat in the FPCCI Managing Committee to any chamber/association. All trade bodies to come through the process of election.
(v) Section 25 under the amount of penalty would be maximum Rs 10,000.
(vi) The tenure of the FPCCI president and the managing committee would be two years.
(vii) The minimum requirement of membership of chamber would be 150 and association and women chambers 100 each.
(viii) Every chamber must have the right to nominate a candidate for the post of president FPCCI through normal roster, including Fata/Pata.
(ix) Definition of District to be added in Ordinance as well as in Rules.
(x) Immediate Past President to always be ex-officio member of all the trade organisation, including FPCCI.
(xi) Extension in time was allowed to file applications for renewal of license up to June 15, 2007.
(xii) Small trader chambers have been allowed to be formed at provincial headquarters.-PR
Our reporter adds: The announcement regarding the acceptance of the amendments has been made by the FPCCI delegation, but there is no official confirmation so far from the commerce ministry about the acceptance of the demands. Although a week has passed, neither the PM secretariat nor the commerce ministry has made any official announcement to confirm FPCCI claim.
On the other hand, KCCI President Majyd Aziz told Business Recorder here on Saturday that during his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Thursday in the Governor House he was informed by the prime minister that no assurance about the acceptance of amendments as proposed by the FPCCI was given by him.
Majyd Aziz said the prime minister assured him that he would listen to the viewpoint of the Karachi Chamber as well and asked his secretary to fix an appointment for a meeting with the KCCI delegation in Islamabad.
He said he would proceed to Islamabad with eight-member delegation as soon as he receives the date of the meeting from the Prime Minister Secretariat. In the meantime, he said that he will have a meeting with the LCCI president LCCI, who is arriving here on Monday to discuss the situation regarding the amendments to TOO-2006 and TOR-2007.