ISLAMABAD: The leadership of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has decided to shift its head office from Karachi to Islamabad subject to approval by its general body meeting scheduled to be held next month.

Talking to the media, FPCCI coordinator Mirza Abdul Rehman said on Friday that the federation had its own building in Mauve Area Islamabad, and 85 percent chambers, association and trade bodies had demanded shifting the FPCCI head office from Karachi to Islamabad.

“The major reason for this demand was that all ministers, diplomatic missions, head offices of regulatory bodies, etc., are in Islamabad,” Mr Rehman said.

He added: “Time has changed and industrial and commercial centres have been established across the country, contrary to the situation some decades ago when Karachi was the only hub of industries and commerce.”

He said this demand was raised by many chambers and trade associations, and it was also one of the points of the Businessmen Panel (BMP) during the election campaign.

“Besides, we have announced to reduce the licence fee of trade bodies and women chambers and these agenda items will be discussed in the next meetings of the executive body as well as the general body scheduled to be held in the first week of August,” he said.

The FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar has already started discussing the issue of shifting the head office to Islamabad with the members of various chambers of commerce and trade associations.

General body of the FPCCI is composed of one member of each registered trade association and one from the recognised chamber of commerce of the country.

Established in 1950, currently the members of FPCCI includes 59 chambers of commerce and industry, 17 women’s chambers of commerce & industry, nine chambers of small traders, 130 all Pakistan trade associations and seven joint chambers of commerce representing industry, trade and service sectors across the country.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2020