KARACHI, April 26: The process of reforming and restructuring the apex trade body, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has been set in motion and members have been asked to give their suggestions and recommendations to amend the articles of association.

A sub-committee will be formed by the FPCCI managing committee on Saturday (April 30) in Lahore to consider the proposals and suggestions to restructure the apex trade body, according to an agenda circulated by the federation.

Just after his election as the president of FPCCI, Chowdhry Mohammad Saeed announced to reform the FPCCI to make it a true representative body of the business community that has a leadership role. The process now being set in motion to restructure and reform the FPCCI is according to his programme.

“I wish to make the articles of association of the FPCCI a consensus document,” Mr Saeed informed Dawn by telephone on Tuesday. “I will obtain ISO certification for the FPCCI and enforce corporate governance,” he stressed. “The FPCCI will be a research-oriented institution that will serve Pakistan’s business.”

“We are trying to get in touch with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry to form a joint business council,” he replied when asked about the decision taken in this regard during President Musharraf’s visit to Delhi.

The FPCCI plans to increase income levels and construct a 30-storey building on a plot of 11,000 square yards at Clifton, which is behind its main office. There are also plans to construct a capital office in Islamabad and another office in Lahore.

The FPCCI has a managing committee of over 100 members that are drawn from the affiliated chambers and trade associations in the elections. The standing committees to deal with sector-wise business issues and bilateral and regional trade bodies are the two tools with which the federation furthers the interest of the business community.

One of the 10-point agenda for the managing committee’s Saturday meeting is the FPCCI’s 10-year vision of business to be given by its president. By the next 10 years or so, the South Asia and East Asia will emerge as a loose economic unit integrated by free trade agreements. Included in this giant free trade zone will be India, China and Asean countries with more than 2.5 billion population and the size of the economy will be almost $3 trillion. Goods and services will move freely in this zone. Unfortunately, Pakistan remains on the sidelines and aloof, thanks to those who control the destiny.

The FPCCI chief, however, observes that Pakistan maintains a key position in the area. Its strategic location, the opening up of backward East China because of the Gwadar Port, and a host of other factors “make us an important player in the region”.