Criticism over FPCCI’s absence from critical budget meeting
Islamabad
Former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and founding president of the Attock Chamber of Commerce, Mirza Abdul Rehman, said on Thursday that the FPCCI’s absence from the recent Senate Budget Advisory Committee meeting had raised serious concerns and criticism from various quarters.
In a statement, Mirza Abdul Rehman said that the Senate Budget Advisory Committee meeting was held yesterday in Committee Room No. 2 of the Parliament House, under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla.
Senators Sherry Rehman, Shibli Faraz, and Faisal Vawda, senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and representatives from various chambers across the country attended the meeting.
Presidents and representatives from the Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Islamabad Women Chambers participated and presented proposals for national economic growth and the resolution of key issues.
However, neither the President of FPCCI nor any representative of the apex chamber attended the critical meeting, which drew regret and concern from several participants.
Mirza Abdul Rehman remarked that the current FPCCI leadership lacks seriousness. He stated that President Atif Ikram Sheikh has repeatedly demonstrated irresponsible behaviour.
According to him, Sheikh has formed a five-member, unelected group that is engrossed in personal affairs and appears disconnected from the concerns of the business community. Since this leadership does not require direct electoral support, they feel no obligation to stay engaged with traders and industrialists.
He further alleged that some individuals holding key positions within FPCCI are misusing the FATA and PATA duty-free quota by obtaining raw materials and selling them in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in billions of rupees in revenue losses for the government. He demanded that this practice be stopped immediately to enhance state revenue.
Mirza Abdul Rehman also criticised UBG (United Business Group) leader S.M. Tanveer, stating that despite being fully aware of these complaints, he continues to ignore them, which is exacerbating the issues.
