Azad Group and All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajraan (APAT) have decided to participate in the elections of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to be held on November 18-19.
While addressing a press conference here on Friday, the Chairman Azad Group Raja Hasan Akhtar announced the group participation in the forthcoming LCCI election on all corporate and associate class seats. Secretary General of the Azad Group Muhammad Yasin, President of the group Syed Salman Ali and Patron of group Dr Ahsan Waris were also present on the occasion.
Presently Pakistan is facing through a critical phase of economic recession while the LCCI leadership, instead of giving positive and practical advise, is busy in flattering the government. The government, in addition to levy of other taxes, has increased the general sales tax ratio from 16 percent to 21 percent and also imposed withholding tax on utility bills because of the LCCI leadership, which is working only for their vested interest, he said.
In view of the present circumstances, the Azad Group has decided to introduce strong candidates for the LCCI elections who could play their role for the uplift of traders' community, he added.
Raja Hassan Akthar said that the Azad Group has started its election campaign in all the markets of the city. Talking about the objectives of the constitution of the group, he said the group did not believe in grouping and "bradari" politics. Azad group has contacted with different local groups of various markets of the city and getting their support while the group members have also started their visits to the different markets of the city.
Meanwhile, APAT President Haji Maqsood Butt during a meeting also announced that All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajraan would also take part in the LCCI elections so that the elements working for political motives could be discouraged. He said the October 25 strike call given by the Zonal Chairman of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an oppressive step against the country to serve political motives and added the APAT has no link with the strike call.