January 20, 2007	Saturday	Zilhaj 29, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 19: Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan on Friday assured the business community that rules under the Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2006, would be made public, consulted and then finalised.

Addressing members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here at the Federation House, he dispelled the so-called apprehensions, and said whatever was stated by the FPCCI members, traders and industrialists all fell within the ambit of hearsay, and need not be responded.

The entire business community and chambers, including the FPCCI, were aware since March 2006 that an Ordinance would be promulgated soon as the previous law was 45-year-old and required changes, Humayun Akhtar Khan said.

All the transitional issues were dealt with finesse in the said Ordinance, he said, adding he himself was in constant consultation with the trade bodies and organisations and the rules framed under the ordinance would be made public, put on the internet and would be finalised after exhaustive consultations with all the stake-holders.

Our emphasis is on practicality of the rules to ensure more participation.

About delay in promulgation of rules, the minister said the ordinance would be tabled before the legislature as soon as the parliament comes into session.

The FPCCI and other trade bodies are at liberty to lobby before the standing committee of the parliament, he said.

Referring to national economy, in general, he said whenever an economy grows, money supply also increases.

Humayun Akhtar admitted an acute power crisis hitting the trade and industry, and said statements about “no load-shedding” make him uneasy. —APP