March 28, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1428

ISLAMABAD, March 27: The commerce ministry has sought suggestions from all trade organisations, including Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), by the end of the current month for a further improvement in the trade rules-2007.

Briefing newsmen following a meeting with representatives of various trade bodies, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said the government would not repeal the trade ordinance 2006, but would accept all genuine proposals by March 31 from all trade bodies for making amendments in the rules.

Mr Khan said that the government would extend the last date for filing of applications for registration of trade bodies.

“We are flexible on this issue. We would extend the date to facilitate trade bodies,” the minister added.

The last date for filing of applications is April 15, 2007.

The minister asked the delegation to also submit their suggestions regarding improvement in trade rules in writing, and assured them that their genuine suggestions would be taken care of and incorporated for the promotion of trade in the country.

He said that the government would promote and strengthen genuine trade chambers and associations by further improving trade organisation rules-2007.

The ordinance called “Trade ordinance 2006” was promulgated on December 30 last year for registration and regulation of trade organisations in the country.

To a question, the minister said that the government had no intention of regulating trade organisations by enacting the new law.

“We want to remove the bogus chambers and associations,” the minister asserted.

Citing an example of the existing FPCCI structure, the minister elaborated that in new setup there was no representative of Karachi Chamber, which constituted more than 60 per cent of the trading of the country. Similar, is the case with Lahore chamber.

“We want to have permanent seat in the management committee of the FPCCI for Karachi and Lahore etc,” the minister added.

The delegation welcomed the Trade Ordinance 2006 and added that if trade rules are further improved, this would be beneficial for the entire country.

Meanwhile, representatives from various chambers of commerce, including Sarhad Chamber, Mardan chamber, Sheikhupura chamber and Hazara chamber, under the headship of Ilyas Bilour of Sarhad chamber, met the commerce minister. Commerce secretary Syed Asif Shah and DTO were also present.

The minister said that the ministry was receiving applications from various chambers and associations.

He asked the delegation that they should also submit their written statements.

The delegation assured the minister of their full support. However, they suggested some proposals to further improve the trade rules.

Mr Khan asked the delegation that all the stakeholders should give their suggestions till Saturday this week so that the ministry would be able to give a genuine trade body ordinance.