F.P. Report
KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber and all seven industrial town associations have unanimously resolved that Karachi’s entire Business & Industrial Community will not remain silent anymore but would surely raise strong one voice under KCCI’s umbrella to get the common issues resolved which are being suffered since long only due to sheer negligence of all three tiers of the government including federal, provincial and local governments.
“If the government fails to pay attention to our demands, particularly those pertaining to improving the dilapidated infrastructure in all industrial zones of Karachi and provision of uninterrupted gas, electricity and water supplies, the business & industrial community will vocally criticize the government and also come out on streets to protest till all our valid demands are fulfilled”, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Site Association of Industry (SAI), Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI), Landhi Association of Trade & Industry (LATI), Federal B. Area Association of Trade & Industry (FBATI), North Karachi Association of Trade & Industry (NKATI), Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI), Site Superhighway Association of Trade & Industry (SSATI) resolved at a meeting held at Karachi Chamber.
The meeting was attended by General Secretary BMG AQ Khalil, President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, Senior Vice President Arshad Islam, Vice President Shahid Ismail, Former President Junaid Esmail Makda, Former Senior Vice President Jawed Bilwani, President SAI Suleman Chawla, Vice President NKATI Fawad Elahi, President FBATI Abdullah Abid, Vice President LATI Riaz Ahmed, Former Chairman LATI Zain Bashir, President KATI Sheikh Umer Rehan, KATI representative Ehthesham Uddin, President SSATI Shaheen Sarwana, President BQATI Rana Naveed Shakoor, KCCI Managing Committee Members and others.
Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary BMG stated that a misconception has emerged as many industrialists feel that KCCI takes up the issues of small traders and commercial importers only whereas the small traders are of the opinion that the Chamber pays attention to industries only. “Both are wrong as KCCI has been paying equal attention to all the issues either being faced by small traders, commercial importers or by any industrialist without any discrimination”, he added.
He stressed that all the industrial town associations and other stakeholders will have to make collective efforts as individual efforts would never yield positive results. “We will have to exhibit unity and stay united under KCCI’s umbrella to get the issues resolved. It is really unfortunate that despite contributing more than 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer, Karachi is constantly being ignored which is not acceptable hence we all have to join hands and urge the government to pay attention to the issues of Karachi”, he added.
President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan stated that the reason for summoning today’s meeting with all industrial town associations was to discuss the general economic issues and common problems being suffered by the entire business community of Karachi and accordingly devise strategies strictly in consultation with all stakeholder. He also underscored that all industrial town associations must make collective efforts to fight for the rights of the entire business community. “We will surely become an indispensable force but we all have to join hands in larger interest of not just Karachi but the entire country”, he added.
Focal Person of KCCI’s Committee to Maintain Liaison with Industrial Town Associations and Former President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, in his remarks, stressed the need to focus on some particular issues first and timely raise voice to get them resolved. KCCI and all Industrial Town Associations must work closely to compile a comprehensive document carrying recommendations for Industrial Policy as the government nowadays is in the process of outlining the Industrial Policy, he said, adding that all stakeholders must give their input at today’s meeting which will be followed by a series of more such meetings on monthly basis so that strategies could be devised on how to convince the government to announce a pro-business industrial policy and pay special attention to all the issues of Karachi.
Speaking on the occasion, Former Senior Vice President KCCI Jawed Bilwani stated, “All the ills being faced by Karachi were only due to the fact that we remained silent, allowed the situation to get worse and it is going to worsen further in the days to come. We will have to fight for our rights, come out on streets and hold protests until all our valid demands are met. This is the only way to seek government’s attention otherwise things will continue to get worst.”
President FBATI Abdullah Abid pointed out that the biggest issue was the lack of clear policy differentiating industries from traders and commercial importers that creates a lot of problems for both the business segments and it must be addressed in the next Industrial Policy. It seems that only textile sector and a few other sectors are getting attention while the non-traditional sectors were largely being ignored which was the basic reason behind depressed exports and ailing economy.
While welcoming KCCI’s initiative to unite all industrial town associations under one roof, he suggested that a daylong interactive session on a larger scale must be staged to gather recommendations for a long term Industrial Policy which has to be implemented for a period of at least 10 years under Vision 2030.
President SAI Suleman Chawla, in his remarks, also advocated that the Industrial Policy should be devised and implemented in such a manner that it remains intact for the next 10 years. “KCCI, being the premier chamber and a strong voice of the entire business community must take lead and take up the issues with the government on priority while the entire business community remains united and fully supports KCCI’s decisions”, he added.
President KATI Umer Rehan said, “Individually we will never be able to achieve what we are looking for, hence we all have to support each other and make collective efforts. We will have to vocally, fearlessly and daringly speak the truth and exert pressure on the decision makers so that they could pay attention to our issues.”
President Site Superhighway Association Shaheen Sarwana opined that the Industrial Policy under Vision 2030 must be devised in such a matter that it efficiently addresses the rising demand for water, electricity, gas and human resources for the next 10 years.
President BQATI Rana Naveed Shakoor stressed that the government should be advised to start freight trains to facilitate smooth and cheaper flow of goods to the upcountry. Conflicts over the Axle Load Regime will continue while the road infrastructure of the country was not in a position to handle heavily loaded trucks hence, the solution lies in commencement of Freight trains, he added.
President LATI Riaz Ahmed also stressed the need for long term planning in consultation with all industrial zones while Former Chairman LATI Zain Bashir, in his remarks, said, “We will have to focus on key issues including water, electricity and gas shortages, particularly the water and gas theft. SSGC suffers losses of up to 15 to 20 percent on account of UFG which happens nowhere around the world as UFG losses are contained in between 1 to 2 percent but at SSGC, the losses have gone so high only because of incompetent management.”
On the occasion, Vice President NKATI Fawad Elahi pointed out that it has been observed that every year KE resorts to severe load shedding from six to twelve and even up to eighteen hours at all the industrial zones every day during Ramazan which terribly affects production and raises the cost of doing business. “We have plenty of time hence, we must take up this serious matter with KE and also Sindh government so that no load shedding is suffered by the industries this year”, he added.
