KARACHI, Aug 29: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday questioned US commitment to Pakistan when it issues frequent travel advisories and when the US private sector is not ready to engage itself in long-term investment plans, particularly in energy sector.

General Dan Christman, senior vice-president of International Affairs, US Chamber of Commerce held a meeting with a team of local business leaders on Friday for about 40 minutes to enquire from them whether they support any political party or sponsor members of political parties in assemblies’ elections.

“We have nothing to do with politics,’’ Siraj Kassim Teli, a former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed the visiting American.

“Teli also leads a big businessmen group that controls the Karachi chamber. He added hastily, “We do occasionally speak on political issues when we feel these are affecting our business.’’

He quoted instances when businessmen were forced to speak on politics when a stalemate on former president Musharraf’s resignation was affecting business. “We did not hesitate to demand his immediate resignation.”

The brief meeting provided an opportunity to local businessmen to lash out at the US approach towards Pakistan which is “tentative, confusing and short sighted.’’

“Your frequent travel advisories on Pakistan vitiate business environment,’’ Zubair Motiwala, also a former president of KCCI is quoted to have told the visiting US chamber official.

The business leaders argued that violence had gripped a big part of the developing world and their question was, ‘’Why single out Pakistan only for travel advisory,’’ Zubair questioned. “We do not want aid but we want to expand trade volume and business relations,’’ Siraj Kassim emphasised. Zubair observed that Americans never demonstrated to show that they were here in this region for long and sustained relations.

Had it been so, the US investors should have committed themselves in long-term projects, more particularly in conventional energy and alternate energy projects in Pakistan,’’ Siraj observed.

The businessmen pleaded for better access of Pakistani goods, particularly of textile in US market. They identified areas where US and Pakistan businessmen could go a long way together.

General Christman showed keen interest in judicial reforms in Pakistan,’’ one of the members of businessmen team said. He said that a reference was made to ‘Access to Justice’ programme funded by an international donor to Pakistan.

“We made out point loud and clear,’’ the businessman said adding that Pakistan has all potential to grow and develop. “We can come out from the present severe economic crisis, if US and other countries help us in giving market access and invest in relevant sectors,’’ he said.In another development, business leaders in Karachi are preparing themselves to raise burning issues of the economy on Saturday when top leaders of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party plays host to a huge representative gathering of trade and industry. They expect the PPP leader Asif Zardari to be in the meeting.