ISLAMABAD: The Fede­ration of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Wednesday lodged a complaint to the Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO) against the Lahore administration for cancelling FPCCI’s Executive Com­mittee and General Body Meeting that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

In his letter, FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar said “it is very strange that the government has allowed legions to record protest all over the country on the first anniversary of the annexation day of occupied Kashmir without following the prescribed standard operating procedures while the FPCCI has been ordered to cancel meetings where less than 50 persons were to attend.”

Lahore deputy commissioner cancelled FPCCI’s Executive Committee and General Body Meeting through an order issued late Tuesday evening on the basis that more than 50 persons were scheduled to assemble at FPCCI auditorium.

FPCCI president also wrote a letter to Lahore deputy commissioner protesting on behalf of the business community of the country.

He said the order was issued at closing of office hours on Tuesday, “though the FPCCI made arrangements under the prescribed government SOPs related to Covid-19, wherein we have enough space in our Lahore office to hold such meetings with social distance.”

“We regret that the deputy commissioner’s office is unaware about the importance of these meetings wherein a road map was to be developed for revival of our economy and smooth business and trade activities all over the country,” Nisar said. Meanwhile, Islamabad Capital Office Coordinator Mirza Abdul Rehman said that a series of FPCCI activities up to December were to be discussed in the meeting, in­­cluding FPCCI Achieve­ment Awards, elections and its member bodies etc.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2020