The three-day "My Karachi - Oasis of Harmony Exhibition", organised by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at Expo Centre, was visited by as many as one million people. Speaking at a news conference, KCCI president Younus Bashir said that the exhibition which concluded on Sunday was visited by people belonging to different walks of life and they included diplomats, local and foreign businessmen, senior government officials and a large number of families.
"Today, I am very happy to have seen overwhelming participation of local people as well as of foreign diplomats in the show," the KCCI chief said, adding that the exhibition was aimed at projecting Karachi's soft image in the country and abroad. He said that foreign diplomats in recent years used to be reluctant in participating in such events due to the city's poor law and order situation but, this year, ambassadors and consul generals of various countries, including Russia, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Romania, Thailand, Switzerland, visited the exhibition along with their families. Some of them even set up their stalls and as such their participation will help in attracting foreign investment in the country, he opined.
Lauding the efforts of Rangers, police and other law-enforcement agencies in restoring peace in the city, Bashir urged the government to continue the ongoing Karachi operation till it achieves logical ends. "Any move to politicise the Rangers-led operation would tantamount to destabilising the city's peace and economy." he said, adding that durable peace was essential for the growth of the country's economy.
Speaking on the occasion, prominent businessman Zuabir Motiwala said that the KCCI's exhibition is purely a non-commercial activity and it was continuously being organised for the last 13 years merely to project the city's soft image. The exhibition was visited by nearly one million people and around Rs 50 million was generated through the sale of various products which were showcased in the fair, he said, adding the KCCI will set up Gwadar-specific pavilion in its next exhibition and such a facility will help Karachiites in finding their role in the $46 CPEC project.