Using the role of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for specific personal interests is a big conspiracy against the country’s industry and trade
— Mirza Abdul Rehman (Former Vice President FPCCI)
The main duty of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), a representative organization of industry and trade across the country, is to promote economic development, industrial revival and trade balance across Pakistan. Unfortunately, a meeting was held today at Federation House Islamabad and it was observed that some officials of the Federation used the platform of FPCCI to protect their personal industrial interests, which is not only against the image of the business community and this organization but is also harmful to the overall economy and industrial balance of the country.
Mirza Abdul Rehman, a former Vice President of the Federation and a prominent industrialist, has strongly condemned and said that the current president has established his own industry in FATA and is creating an atmosphere of unfair competition in the country’s industrial market by obtaining goods in the name of FATA at specific prices. When the prices at which ghee, saria and other goods are sold in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi are available to the poor people of FATA and PATA at the same rates, the demand for subsidy or relief for specific areas will not only give undue benefit to a few factory owners but will also create division and distrust among the domestic industries. The federal government should implement a uniform system to protect the entire country’s industry from collapse and relief should be given directly to the people of FATA. We strongly condemn Pakistan’s business community and industry for using the Federation for personal gain.
He said, “The people of FATA have not received any relief in the real sense till date, rather the ordinary traders and industrialists here are still craving basic facilities. But specific industrialists, who want to gain personal gain by using the name of FATA, are destroying the country’s trade balance through the platform of the Federation.”
Mirza Abdul Rehman has strongly demanded from the federal government that:
- The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry should be kept free from any kind of political or personal influence.
- The same level of incentives, facilities and competitive environment should be provided to industries across the country.
- Immediate action should be taken against such elements who are using a national institution like the Federation for personal interests.
He said that “If due to a few vested interests, the country’s major industries are closed, or the confidence of foreign investors is lost, then those who are holding the entire system hostage in the name of relief will be responsible for it.”
Mirza Abdul Rehman has appealed to industrialists and traders to raise their voices against these conspiracies and work unitedly in the true national interest.
