Businessmen urge implementation of TOO

KARACHI (APP) - Trade Organisations Ordinance (TOO) should be validated for the sake of economy of the country and no changes should be made without taking the business community into confidence and creating consensus among all the stakeholders.
This was emphasized by Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group in KCCI and former president KCCI, during a meeting with Director General, Trade Organizations, Ministry of Commerce, Amjad Nazir here at Karachi Chamber. The meeting was also attended by representatives of various Chambers of Sindh and Balochistan and Chairmen and representatives of various trade associations, said a statement issued by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.
The participants discussed in detail the proposed amendments in the ordinance for its improvement. Siraj Teli maintained that business community are non-political entity collectively and are genuine stakeholders in the countrys economy.
The Government should ensure that trade bodies/chambers of the country are represented by genuine stakeholders only.
He urged for validating and implementing of Trade Organization Ordinance, which was the fulfillment of the long-standing demand of the trade and industrial community to change the outdated Trade Ordinance of 1961 through which mushroom growth of many 'bogus and non-representative trade bodies had come up. Since the TOO-2007 was made with the consensus of all the business and industrial community for betterment of the trade bodies, it is would not be fair that this Ordinance be allowed to lapse nor any changes are made in isolation without consulting the business community at large level for endorsement and make it practical.
M Zubair Motiwala, Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Investment and former president KCCI stressed the need for regulations only with consultation of the stakeholders.
He recalled that a neutral committee headed by Supreme Court of Pakistans retired judge , Justice Salim Akhtar had finalized the draft and promulgated this ordinance TOO-2007 after detailed deliberations and meetings over a period of two years. The implementation of this TOO-2007 has already taken place and has proven the fact that the demand and promulgation of this ordinance was genuine as it has curtailed through re-registration most of those non representative/ bogus chambers and associations down to 107 from 220.
Commenting on the suggestions and recommendation for establishing the separate chamber for small traders and cottage industry, he said they were being duly represented at KCCI. Their problems/ issues were addressed and resolved by this chamber at large.
He also added that due representation of women entrepreneur is also visible in the Chamber as two women members are in the Managing Committee of KCCI representing them. DG Trade Organizations, Ministry of Commerce,
Amjad Nazeer informed that their purpose of visit to KCCI was to discuss the proposed amendments in the Trade Organizations Ordinance.
He said that previously meetings were held at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Now, the team of Ministry of Commerce was at KCCI to seek the point of view and opinion.
He endorsed that KCCI being the premier and larger Chamber of Pakistan and a vital stakeholder has its own recognition and heard in Islamabad as an important stakeholder.
He said that constructive regulations brings good result and such regulations will be done with the consultation of stakeholders.
He ensured that the recommendations of KCCI will be honestly submitted to the National Assemblys Standing Committee on Commerce.