Businessmen Panel's spokesperson Ahmad Jawad has said that the electoral college for choosing FPCCI Vice Presidents of KP and Capital Area is abolished and the election schedule for these two areas likely to be announced later because last date for submission of the nomination papers for candidates was December 11 but FPCCI notified the merger of CCIs in FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in the light of DGTO order, on December 12.
He elaborated that the Chambers of Commerce (CCIs) falling in FATA has been merged in the KP as per DGTO letter sent to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) after FATA-KP merger as conveyed by the Ministry of Commerce.
Jawad briefed the media on FATA and PATA merger into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that also impacted the apex trade body's electoral college for these two areas and FPCCI informed late to the DGTO office for the clarification on this issue. In this regard, it is understood that election on these two seats shall be held later in view of due election campaign time required to the respective candidates.
"Similarly, we have nominated the candidate for the post of Vice President Balochistan from Makran Chamber," he said, adding that FPCCI ruling group UBG wasted four years of business community because not a single work done for the community which was unprecedented.
The BMP spokesman said FBR refunds were still pending and they hadn't seen any comprehensive effort by FPCCI, a matter of a great concern for them. He said they felt isolated because their issues were still there and no one was there to oversee it. He said the government should provide investment-friendly environment in addition to incentives to the investors to improve foreign investment in the country.
He said the BMP always raised its voice for the resolution of challenges faced by the business community and would take concrete measures for the same after securing victory in the FPCCI election for 2019.
Ahmed Jawad said industrialists and traders play vital role in the economic growth of the country and should be included in the government's decision pertaining to the country's economy for fruitful results.
"Government should benefit from the experiences of the business community to develop the export sector," he said, demanding that suggestions and recommendations of the business community should be implemented.
The BMP also urged the government for early payment of Rs 300 billion refunds of exporters and reforming the tax system. It is important that the impacts of Prime Minister's foreign visits should be extended to the nation in term of increased foreign investment; however it will take few more months, which is understandable, Jawad said. He said they aimed to take concrete measures for increasing FPCCI's role in the economic growth and to make it the most active chamber across the globe.