KARACHI: Mian Anjum Nisar, former president FPCCI and Chairman Businessmen Panel (BMP) Pakistan disclosed that Lahore Chamber election was most critical and sensitive venture where all the opponents gathered to defeat us but by the grace of Allah almighty we defeated them handsomely by winning all 32 seats with heavy mandate. 

He was addressing to a reception hosted by Businessmen Panel (BMP) Pakistan and Executive Committee Members BMP Sindh. It was a get together in Karachi where Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar was the chief guest. Other leaders and speakers on the occasion included Amjad Rafi, Haji Ghulam Ali, Shahzeb Akram, Zakaria Usman, and Senior Vice Chairman Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, and former office bearers of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).       Anjum Nisar further informed that three ministers and specially Commerce Minister and his ministry run a campaign against BMP but miserably failed.  They targeted the BMP voters and supporters; the ruling party in FPCCI is not serving the business but its own interests.

Younus Dhaga was an experienced expert in his field but his efforts were discouraged. Business community’s welfare works are abandoned by them and plundering the national resources. Research and development efforts introduced by us were stopped by this regime in federation house. Clearing agents are being encouraged by them for collections. We hope that electricity rates would be soon reduced for general consumers and business community which is highest in the region.  We need creation of three million jobs every year for which trade and industry’s fast development needed. Hence we have to struggle for economic development of the country.  Earlier, Sheikh Sultan Rehman, Secretary General BMP Sindh highlighted the aims and objects of the panel and its activities all over the country and introduced its office bearers. Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo in his address disclosed that I have received large number of members’ complaints that the elected president was not sitting in office for months, often tours abroad and their grievances remain unresolved.  This regime is only interested in customs related matters being dealt at Karachi head office and people allege that bribes for custom house being collected. We had established a Policy Board in federation house and got approved a 24 story building plan from the Peoples Party but this ruling group has frozen all research works. We had three presidents of BMP who served successfully served the business community very well.  The Policy Board comprised of top people with a team of researchers hired by FPCCI, even within six months the Ministry of Commerce requested to conduct some studies for them by sending a fund up to Rs.6 million. This was the confidence level of Policy Board and our performance, he said.  Former President FPCCI Haji Ghulam Ali from KPK welcomed and congratulated BMP teams past performance for resolution of business community of the country.  He deplored the orders issued by incumbent president for prohibiting the members from going on 6th floor of Islamabad FPCCI office and 4th floor of Karachi federation house. Even Secretary General of the FPCCI is not allowed. This is shameful; he said. They are destroying trade and industry in the country. Large numbers of scandals by incumbent president FPCCI being circulated in the country, but the government agencies are not registering any FIR against him. He must be accountable before the law. Our business is being shifted to Dubai through unfair means by this regime. Shahzeb Akram senior vice chairman (BMP Punjab) said after 22 years our leadership brought a revolution by winning in Lahore Chamber, we hope in FPCCI’s next election we will further improve our strength. Our opponents’ voters are feeling sorry in the past one year after seeing behavior of the present ruling regime. There are many complaints by general body members against rude attitude of the office holders in FPCCI.  I am glad to attend this function and will invite you all in Punjab for another get together. We will bring back the past six years of BMP facilitation era and serve the members of trade and industry. Former President FPCCI Zakaria Usman congratulated the chairman BMP for a clean sweep in Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry elections where all 32 members of BMP were declared successful. Similarly in Gujranwala Chamber 29 out of 30 members of BMP candidates won. He said all members of BMP have proved their unity whether it was winning or defeated in any elections. We were approached by our opponent group to change loyalty but they were failed.