Eighteen trade organisations and associations of South Punjab have announced to join United Businessmen Group (UBG) and support S M Muneer and Iftikhar Ali Malik in the forthcoming elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI).
These associations include: Multan, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur chambers; All Pakistan Bedsheet & Upholstry Manufacturers Association (APBUMA); Pakistan Oil Mills Association (POMA); All Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association (PASEA); Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA); Small Traders Chamber and Pakistan Handlooms Association.
They reposed their confidence in the leadership of United Businessmen Group with the call that all steps should be taken with the consent of the executive committee and other members.
The South Punjab's traders demanded opening of a liaison office of the federation in Multan and allocation of permanent seat of vice-president for South Punjab considering that its population had swelled to 40 million and it was the fourth highest revenue generating zone after Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
In his vote of thanks to the traders of Southern Punjab, SAARC Chamber's Vice-President Iftikhar Ali Malik said that the leading businessmen of the country had formed a new group called 'United Business Panel' for the promotion of democracy in the country.
The members of the panel are SM Muneer, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Mian Zahid Husain, Haji Ghulam Qadir Sherani, Zubair F Tufail, SM Naseer, Jamil Mehboob Magon, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Tanweer Ahmed Shaikh, Mian Idrees, Engineer Dawood Khan, Riazuddin Shaikh, Aijaz Khokhar, Mumtaz Shaikh, Shaikh Riaz, Shaikh Younus, Hameed Akhtar, Haroon Rashid, Hina Mansab Khan, Salma Ahmed and Rizwana Shahid.
Malik said that efforts would be made to bring 'true' democracy in FPCCI through ballot. He also announced that regular elections would be held in United Businessmen Panel after every two years.