KCCI defends proposed amendment to trade rules

Published February 27, 2026 Updated February 27, 2026 07:17am
A view of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (KCCI) building. — Photo by Azhar Khan
A view of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building. — Photo by Azhar Khan

KARACHI: Amid strong reservations voiced by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Muhammad Rehan Hanif has said the proposed amendment to the Trade Organi­sations Rules 2013 is solely aimed at ensuring unified citywide representation for Karachi.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh had said the proposed legislation would eliminate district-level chambers, destroy institutional stru­c­t­ures and devastate district economies.

Mr Hanif said the objective of the proposed amendment was to ensure parity and consistency so that Karachi is treated on the same footing as other metropolitan centres where one chamber represents the entire city. The amendment, he add­ed, would not affect any chamber, trade body or association elsewhere in Pakistan, nor would it alter the legal status, jurisdiction or operational mandate of any existing organisation in other cities.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026

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