KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has expressed reservations on the recently formed Council of Business Leaders as none of the members are included on Federation’s recommendation.

The FPCCI presents its compliments to your Excellency. We appreciate your efforts to put the economy of the Country on the right track and also understand the challenges faced by your
Government in this regard. The recent formation of council of business leaders is a positive step and we do support the idea of involvement of entrepreneurs from all sectors in evolving the government’s economic policies,”Senior Vice President FPCCI Mazhar Ali Tanveer noted in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“However, we have some concerns in this regard as the Council of Business leaders lacks support of elected and genuine representatives of the business community,” Mazhar added.

The Federation’s letter notes trade and industry in the country has its established system of elected forums where through a democratic process genuine representatives of a particular sector and industry are chosen each year. Then each of these trade bodies through these elected representatives’ form a unified forum at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and
Industry, (FPCCI) which is the only apex elected forum of the trade and industry in the country.

“The FPCCI has not been given any representation in the council of business leaders and this will leave large vacum between the government and genuine stakeholders to understand the true dynamics of economic conditions in Pakistan and their viable and sustainable solutions,” Mazhar said.

The ground realities would never reach the government quarters through a selected class of elite businessmen but only through the real stakeholders of each trade and industry who are facing them at operational level each day.

FPCCI had strongly suggested that the composition of Council is revised and one-third of the members are included on the recommendation of FPCCI.