December 03, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 11, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: For the first time in country's history, the government has allowed women entrepreneurs to establish separate women's chamber of commerce and industry (WCCI) in a bid to enhance their participation in trade, industry and services.

Mostly dominated by men, there are 48 chambers of commerce and industry, 44 A class associations and 86 B class associations registered with the Director Trade Office (DTO) of the ministry of commerce.

Among other draft amendments to the Trade Organisations Ordinance 1961, the commerce ministry has proposed that the women entrepreneurs desiring to form a chamber at the district level will now have to produce the prescribed number of women entrepreneurs for registration with the DTO.

If the number of women entrepreneurs is less than the prescribed number, they may join an adjoining WCCI. The women fulfilling all the necessary requirements will qualify for membership of the chambers.

The draft Trade Organisations Act 2006 issued here on Friday, which would replace the Trade Organisation Ordinance 1961, carried a number of amendments regarding structures of chambers, provision of additional forum for aggrieved party and introduction of penal powers to the federal government.

Under the proposed draft, all the existing chambers and associations will require to apply for grant of licence within 90 days for a period of two years after the implementation of the new law. A licensed trade organisation will require renewal of its licence every two years.

The renewal would be made following the audits of annual accounts and performance of a trade organisation. The draft act allowed the federal government to cancel the registration of any chamber if not comply with the laid down procedures.

The organisational structure of trade organisations, including composition of executive committees and office-bearers and the manner of their elections, shall be such as prescribed under the rules. An attempt would be made to introduce uniformity in the structure for all chambers.

The director general to be appointed for the purpose of this act have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedures 1908 (ACT V of 1908). The director general or any other authorised person under the proposed law could enter the premises of investigation to get hold of anything necessary for investigation.

For the first time, the government proposed an amendment to allow aggrieved person to challenge the decision of the government within 30 days in a high court on matters of law. Earlier appeal was only made to the secretary.

It was proposed that a person, who violates the provision of this act, would be punishable with fine not exceeding Rs500,000.