ISLAMABAD: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Talat Mehmood has called for a joint platform of five to six major chambers across Pakistan to raise a strong collective voice to resolve common business and industrial issues.
Addressing a meeting hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Wednesday, Mr Mehmood said the proposed forum should meet every month on a rotational basis.
He said that individual representations often failed to achieve the desired results, whereas a united stance would carry greater weight with the government.
He appreciated ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia for bringing leading chambers onto one platform and invited him to visit Karachi.
Referring to Pakistan’s economic challenges, he observed that the country’s exports stood at approximately $30 billion, while remittances were around $41bn.
He cautioned against excessive reliance on overseas remittances and urged the government to introduce policies and incentives that encourage overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country and strengthen domestic economic activity.
He further proposed special facilitation for the business community, including separate arrangements at airports for traders and investors, and called for digitisation and institutional reforms to be used to facilitate, rather than harass.
In his remarks, the ICCI president supported stronger coordination among major chambers and emphasised that collective efforts were essential to address business challenges and strengthen the trade and industrial sectors.
Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026
