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PESHAWAR, Jan 25: A candidate for the vice-president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has withdrawn his candidature from the up-coming elections of the FPCCI, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.
In a letter to the federation's secretary-general, Mr Usman Bashir Bilour said he had been withdrawing to protest against the FPCCI's decision to accept the nomination papers of Mr Faiz Rasool, also a candidate for the vice-president from the Tribal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI).
Mr Bilour said the acceptance of nomination papers of a representative of the newly formed TCCI against the NWFP's quota of vice-presidentship was in violation of the election schedule.
In the FPCCI's election schedule, he pointed out, it was clearly mentioned that a TCCI's representative could not contest for the office of he vice-president reserved for the NWFP. Such a candidate, he said, could only contest for seats falling under the category of 'other zone'.
AFGHAN MARKETS: There is a need for close cooperation between customs authorities and trade and business circles to secure maximum benefits out of growing opportunities in emerging Afghan markets.
"Establishment of better working relationship among customs department, traders, industrialists and customs clearance agents is essential to take maximum advantage out of the increasing business opportunities in Afghanistan," said Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, a member of the executive committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
In a press release issued here on Tuesday, Mr Sarhadi, who is also chairman of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry's standing committee on railways and dry port, said that the custom department could play an important role in promoting trade and business ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
