Tag Archives: ICCI
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry for focusing on exports to reduce trade and fiscal deficits
Islamabad, August 27, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the PTI government to cooperate with the private sector in promoting exports as without exports promotion, it was not possible to overcome the rising trade and fiscal deficits of the country. In a statement issued here Saturday, he said during FY 2017-18, Pakistan’s trade deficit surged to $34 billion which was record increase in the country’s history. It reflected that instead of promoting exports, the country was depending on imports to meet its needs.
He said Pakistan’s exports have been struggling for the last many decades while the exports of its neighbours have been improving. He said in 1992, Bangladesh’s exports were $2.098 billion which have increased to $35.96 billion by 2017. However, Pakistan’s exports improved from $7.3 billion in 1992 to $21.569 billion in 2017 which showed that the country remained unsuccessful in promoting exports according to its real potential. He said Pakistan was mostly depending on textiles for export while its share of textiles exports in world market have come down from 2.2 percent to 1.7 percent.
He said during the last 25 years, India has reduced its dependence on textiles exports by focusing on IT services, auto parts, pharmaceuticals and light engineering goods due to which India’s exports have crossed $298 billion in 2017. He urged that Pakistan should also focus on diversification of exports. He emphasized that government should support the private sector in value addition of products so that Pakistan could improve its exports by exporting value added products.
Muhammad Naveed Malik – Senior Vice President and Nisar Mirza Vice President, ICCI said that energy cost in Pakistan was highest in the region which was a major hurdle in promoting exports. They stressed that the government should focus on indigenous and renewable energy sources to produce cheap energy that would bring down the cost of doing business, foster business activities and promote exports.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2250526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +92-51-2252950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls on PTI Govt. to focus on economic empowerment of women
Islamabad, August 04, 2018 (PPI-OT): Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the newly elected PTI government to focus on the economic empowerment of women as without empowering women, the country could not achieve sustainable economic growth. The ICCI President Sheikh Amir Waheed and other office bearers in a statement on Friday congratulated Ms. Shamim Aftab, former President, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry for her nomination by PTI on reserved seats of women for Punjab Assembly. She visited ICCI and held a meeting with ICCI office bearers.
Sheikh Amir Waheed said that women were half of the country’s population and there was a dire need of bringing them into the mainstream of economy to ensure fast economic development of the country. He urged that PTI Government should make conducive policies for the promotion and growth of women entrepreneurs across the country. He said being former President of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ms. Shamim Aftab was fully aware of the issues of businesswomen and hoped that being member of Punjab Assembly, she would play positive role for resolving their major issues.
He said our women were very talented, however, they needed good environment to excel in every field. He hoped that the PTI governments in Punjab and Centre would pay priority attention to the development of women. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with the new government in its endeavours aimed at promotion of women entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Shamim Aftab said that her nomination by PTI for reserved seat in Punjab Assembly was a great honour for her and reaffirmed that being member of provincial assembly, she would make utmost efforts for the betterment of women. She said chambers of commerce including women chamber should send her their proposals so that with joint efforts, better policies could be made for gender equality and better development of women in the country.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2250526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +92-51-2252950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
CDA asked to develop Food Street in Sitara Market
Islamabad, April 04, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with a delegation visited Sitara Market and congratulated Altaf Shah on being elected as President, Traders WelfareAssociation of G-7 Markaz, Islamabad. They also congratulated the other newly elected office bearers of TWA, Sitara Market, Islamabad. Muhammad Naveed Malik Senior Vice President, Nisar Ahmed Mirza Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik Chairman Founder Group, M. Ejaz Abbasi, Zafar Bakhtawari, Muzammil Sabri, Khalid Chaudhry, Khalid Mian, Hamid Meraj, Syed Adil Anis, Raja Safeer President G-7I and T Centre and others were in the delegation.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed President ICCI said that the construction of a food street was started in Sitara Market, but the work was stopped due to unknown reasons. He called upon the Chairman CDA Usman Akhtar Bajwa and Mayor MCI Sheikh Anser Aziz to issue orders for earlydevelopment of Food Street in Sitara Market that would help in promoting business activities. He assured the newly elected office bearers of TWA, Sitara Market that ICCI would fully cooperate and support in efforts aimed at resolving the issues of traders of the area.
Muhammad Naveed Malik Senior Vice President, Nisar Ahmed Mirza Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik Chairman Founder Group and others also spoke at the occasion and congratulated the newly elected President Altaf Shah and other office bearers of TWA Sitara Market. They also assured of their full cooperation for promoting the interests of traders of the area.
Altaf Shah President and Ch. Khurram Iqbal Secretary General, Traders Welfare Association, Sitara Market, Islamabad said that there was a dire need of flowers market in the area and stressed upon CDA to focus on this issue. They said a filtration plant was available in the market, but was not working and urged that CDA should make it functional so that traders and people of the area could avail cleandrinking water. They said due to absence of rent control act in Islamabad, rent disputes of traders were on the rise and emphasized upon the government to arrange early passage of amended bill of rent control act from the parliament so that this longstanding issue of the traders could be resolved once for all.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
ICCI for introducing fixed tax rate for small traders in next budget
Islamabad, April 02, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with a delegation visited G-10 Markaz, Islamabad and congratulated the newly elected President Kamran Kakakhel and other office bearers of Traders Welfare Association of the area. Muhammad Naveed Senior Vice President, Nisar Mirza Vice President ICCI, Khalid Chaudhry, Dildar Abbasi, Ashfaq Chatha, Syed Adil Anis, Khalid Mian, Muhammad Faheem Khan and others were in the delegation.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed said that next budget was expected on April 27 and called upon the government to focus on introducing fixed tax for small traders as well as provide them special incentives in the coming budget. He said that introduction of fixed tax for small traders would help in expanding tax net and enhancing tax revenue of the country. He said that government should simplify the complicated tax system and develop all tax forms in Urdu that would facilitate, especially the small traders. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with TWA, G-10 Markaz for resolving key issues of the traders.
Kamran Kakakhel, newly elected President, Traders Welfare Association, Sector G-10 Markaz, Islamabad said that absence of new rent control act was the most serious issue of the local traders due to which businesses were feeling insecure. He stressed that ICCI should play its role and take up this issue with the government for early passage of bill of new rent law for Islamabad. He assured that his Association would maintain liaison with Chamber to resolve major issues of the trading community.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
ICCI for introducing fixed tax rate for small traders in next budget
Islamabad, April 02, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with a delegation visited G-10 Markaz, Islamabad and congratulated the newly elected President Kamran Kakakhel and other office bearers of Traders Welfare Association of the area. Muhammad Naveed Senior Vice President, Nisar Mirza Vice President ICCI, Khalid Chaudhry, Dildar Abbasi, Ashfaq Chatha, Syed Adil Anis, Khalid Mian, Muhammad Faheem Khan and others were in the delegation.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed said that next budget was expected on April 27 and called upon the government to focus on introducing fixed tax for small traders as well as provide them special incentives in the coming budget. He said that introduction of fixed tax for small traders would help in expanding tax net and enhancing tax revenue of the country. He said that government should simplify the complicated tax system and develop all tax forms in Urdu that would facilitate, especially the small traders. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with TWA, G-10 Markaz for resolving key issues of the traders.
Kamran Kakakhel, newly elected President, Traders Welfare Association, Sector G-10 Markaz, Islamabad said that absence of new rent control act was the most serious issue of the local traders due to which businesses were feeling insecure. He stressed that ICCI should play its role and take up this issue with the government for early passage of bill of new rent law for Islamabad. He assured that his Association would maintain liaison with Chamber to resolve major issues of the trading community.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
ICCI for finalizing Federal Budget 18-19 in consultation with private sector
Islamabad, March 30, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called upon the government to finalize Federal Budget 2018-19 in consultation with private sector to make it inclusive financial bill. He said this while addressing a session organized by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in collaboration with ICCI to hold discussion on improving the parliamentary hearing process for formulating inclusive economic and other policies. He said major chambers of commerce and industry of the country were sending budget proposals every year to the government, but most of them were not included in the final budget that was unfortunate.
He said the role of national assembly’s standing committees on commerce and textile, finance revenue and economic affairs, industry and production, energy and others was vital to make inclusive laws and policies and stressed that representative of business community should be called to the meetings of these standing committees so that they could present the voice of private sector in the law-making process. He said for inclusive economic policies and laws, government must ensure maximum participation of private sector in parliamentary hearing process and system.
Muhammad Naveed Senior Vice President and Nisar Mirza Vice President ICCI thanked the representatives of CRSS for organizing session on improving parliamentary hearing system and hoped that the suggestions given by the business community would be made part of final recommendations for the government. Baser Daud, Mehmood Ahmed Warraich, Khalid Chaudhry, Nasir Chaudhry, Ms. Nasira Ali, Dildar Abbasi, Abbas Hashmi and others also spoke at the occasion and provided useful feedback to bring improvements in the parliamentary hearing process.
Speaking at the occasion, Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) said that the foundational flaws and lacunas in the parliamentary hearing processes discouraged dialogue between the parliamentarians and the private sector representatives. Resultantly the inclusive policy making suffered as the private sector’s feedback for the potential economic reforms was not conveyed to policymakers which was contrary to the idea of inclusive democratic process.
He said CRSS has completed the preliminary research and received comprehensive feedback from the several legal experts to understand the concept of public hearing, the existing systems of public hearing in Pakistan, international best practices and the way forward.He said the CRSS would present its findings and collect more feedback to formulate the policy proposals for the government.
He assured that the proposals given by the business community would be made part of CRSS final recommend actions for the government. Tahir Hanif Parliamentary Consultant, Malik Mustafa Program Manager/Research Fellow and Saddam Hussain Research Fellow of CRSS also accompanied him at the occasion.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk
