KARACHI, May 15: The leadership of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reacted sharply to the media reports attributed to a “self styled leader of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry” according to which Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has accepted “some outrageous demands” made by a four-member delegation of the FPCCI “all of them with vested interests”.

A press release of the KCCI attributed to a spokesman and released through e-mail and fax and also delivered through hand service on Tuesday wondered as to how could the Prime Minister accept such demands as to agreeing to establishment of traders’ chambers in every province without consulting the leadership of Karachi, Lahore, Sarhad and Quetta chambers who represent 95 per cent of trade and industry in the country.The KCCI spokesman ridiculed the argument being offered in support of establishment of traders’ chambers in every province to bring small traders into mainstream. “This is an audacious argument that is totally non maintainable,” the KCCI spokesman contended while arguing that it would crate an existing elitist chamber and a new weak small traders chamber in every province.

He was also shocked to know that the prime minister had accepted the amendments in the Trade Organisation Ordinance 2006 according to which the president would be elected from among the members of the managing committee rather than through a direct and democratic election.

The Prime Minister was reported to have accepted the amendments according to which the requirement of minimum membership was reduced to 150 instead of 300 for chamber, 100 instead of 200 for women chamber and 100 instead of 150 for the associations. Furthermore, there was no need for a separate Women’s Chamber as this was an attempt by extremists to isolate the women and keep them away from main stream.

The KCCI spokesman demanded that the prime minister should put in abeyance any agreement between him and the FPCCI until he listens to the leadership of chambers of Karachi, Lahore, Sarhad and Quetta.