KARACHI: Since Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is unable to declare official and final election results, the un-official results suggest Business-men Panel (BMP) clinched the victory in the annual elections of the country’s apex trade body retaining almost all the main seats, third year in a row.
Election Commissioner was Arshad Khurshid, former General Secretary Karachi Customs Agents Association.
The Federation itself as well the elections have always been quite controversial. The two competing groups; BMP and United Business Group (UBG) have often disclosed use of fake and bogus trade bodies and illegal nominations to rig elections by each of them.
To think, the FPCCI politics is no different than the national politics. All the ambitious people maneuvering to win their way to the throne sans regard to rules, regulations and ethics. Let alone the betterment of their members.
A lot of money is spent on electioneering and maneuvering wherein the members are flown and lodged in hotels in return of their endorsement, just like the famous Biryani.
World over trade bodies play an important role in business development, trade facilitation, business promotion and employment generation. In Pakistan many trade bodies are formed as pressure groups and they actually facilitate and patronize illegal businesses such as smuggling, hundi-hawala, counterfeiting to name a few.
Customs officials and legitimate traders have often complained about the role of certain trade bodies of patronizing smuggling of foreign origin goods as well distribution and sale of the same.
It is also said certain trade bodies have grown so strong that they influence bureaucracy and departments in getting issued statutory and regulatory orders for their favor, which is usually on the cost of legitimate trade and business activity.
High Court of Sindh (SHC) ordered issuance of notice for January 13 Secretary Commerce, FPCCI, DGTO and others in a case regarding inclusion of the names of Syed Shams Burney and another in the final voter list of FPCCI for 2022 as un-lawful.
High Court ordered that votes casted by two members be sealed and kept separate subject to the orders of SHC.
Last year nomination of Khalid Tawab was challenged as he had no business of steel or of any other kind and was not even eligible to become a member of the Executive Committee of FPCCI.
According to the case, Khalid Tawab had obtained bogus nomination from the steel association by fake and fictitious means. His nomination was challenged during the course of election.
Irfan Iqbal Shaikh representing Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is elected President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for the year 2022, un-official polling results suggest. Shaikh got 187 votes, while Dr. Nauman Idris Butt of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) got 159 votes.
Muhammad Suleman Chawla representing All Pakistan Textiles Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) is elected Senior Vice President FPCCI with 198 votes, while Muhammad Hanif Gohar of Association of Builders & Developers (ABAD) got 150 votes.
Mr. Shabbir Hassan (Mansha Churra) representing Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association; Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi of Pakistan Crop Protection Association; Engr. M. A. Jabbar of Pakistan Association Of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers and Shaukat Ali Omerson representing All Pakistan Restaurant Association are elected Vice Presidents FPCCI for the year 2022.