KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has stressed that as KCCI has been dedicatedly serving the entire business & industrial community of Karachi without any discrimination of cast, color, creed and even the size of the business hence trade bodies and associations from all the markets must come forward and bring issues to Chamber’s notice so that strategies could accordingly be devised in consultations with all stakeholders to get these issues amicably resolved.
Exchanging views at various meetings with delegations from Saddar Alliance Market Association, Karachi Iron & Steel Manufacturers Association, All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, All Iron & Steel Merchants Association, All City Tajir Ittehad, Karachi Sarraf & Jewelers Association and Sindh Auto-parts Scrap Importers & Association, Agha Shahab stated that keeping in view the deteriorating standard of doing business and immense problems being faced by the business community, KCCI will try its level best to get the issues resolved so that an enabling business environment and a level playing field could be ensured.
“It is high time that all three tiers of the government including the federal, provincial and local governments must give precedence to the issues being suffered by the business & industrial community of Karachi which contributes around 70 percent to the national exchequer and more than 95 percent to Sindh Revenue Board.”
Talking to a delegation from All City Tajir Ittehad led by its President Hakeem Shah, President KCCI stated that KCCI Office Bearers assist everyone who climbs the Chamber’s stairs for assistance purely on the basis of merit under the specific guidelines by Chairman BMG Siraj Kassam Teli. “We leave not a single stone unturned and try our best to get the problems resolved as soon as these are brought to our knowledge and we find them genuine”, he added.
Commenting on concerns expressed by the affectees of anti-encroachment drive, he urged the government to construct maximum number of markets and plazas at easy accessible locations in different parts of the city with a view to provide relief to perturbed affectees.
He further assured that numerous issues including law & order, sewerage problems, dilapidated road infrastructure at almost all the commercial markets, relocation and possession of new shops to the affectees of anti-encroachments drive, grievances caused by Qabza mafia and harassment by FBR officials will be taken up by KCCI with relevant authorities and all out efforts will be made to get them resolved as the SMEs, Cottage Industries and Small Traders play a crucial role in the economic development.