KARACHI, Dec 9: Amidst a lot of activity and mixed signals from contesting panels the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will enter its first phase of election 2005-06 on December 14 , to elect 24 managing committee members from 'A' class associations and one on additional seat.
Two groups - Businessmen Forum (BMF), lead by Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour and Businessmen Panel (BMP) headed by Tariq Sayeed - are going to field their candidates for 56 managing committee seats of the FPCCI, if there remains no withdrawal till the election day.
The electoral college comprises 103 seats with 45 managing committee seats are already filled, therefore, a vote casting for only 56 seats will take place. There will be a contest for 24 seats of 'A' class associations and 26 seats for 'B' class associations. Both have one additional seat for NWFP and Balochistan. The incumbent president, who will become ex-officio, also have a right of one vote.
The leaders from both the sides are making flying visits throughout the country and meeting different associations and chambers to solicit votes. There are claims and counter claims for getting assurances and support.
In second phase, 'B' class associations will caste their votes on December 16, for 25 managing committee seats from all over the country and one additional seat allocated to provinces of NWFP and Balochistan. The polling for all elections will be held at three points - FPCCI head office, Karachi, FPCCI zonal office, Lahore, FPCCI liaison office, Islamabad.
After holding elections on December 23, for seven vice presidents, five from provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and one each representing chambers and associations the election to the top slot (president) of the apex body of trade and industry will take place on December 27. The vote would be cast at the FPCCI head office, Karachi.
If all goes well after announcing election results 2005-06 the handing over of the office will take place in the annual general meeting of the FPCCI called on December 30, 2004.
It is interesting to note that for the first time both the rival groups have come up with election manifestos to win over voters. It is AJK turn to hold office this term. Consequently both the rival groups have fielded their candidates belonging to the AJK trade bodies.
The Businessmen Forum has nominated Sardar Ashraf from Musaffarabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Businessmen Panel has nominated Chaudhry Mohammad Saeed from AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Mirpur.
The Presidential candidate of BMF Sardar Ashraf told Dawn that his first and foremost objective will be to weed out 'paper bodies' which had been the oot cause of rigging and flouting of election of the apex body of trade and industry.
"I want to restore the dignity and credibility of the FPCCI, which is a sole representative body of trade and industry at the federal level. It needs a lot of hard work, dedication and strong will," he asserted. Giving some of the salient feature of his agenda, he said that his policies would aim at involving the apex body at the decision making level of the government.
Sardar Ashraf said it is a well known fact that anomalies are badly hurting industrialization, therefore, FPCCI under his leadership would ask the government to set up standing committee for the removal of fiscal anomalies. "We will seek representation as well as setting up bodies for the promotion and growth of industrial as well as agriculture sectors."
He further said that there should be representation of the FPCCI at SECP board, Gwadar Development Authority, etc. There should be National Housing Board and National Agriculture Board.
"Time has come for the government and the private sector to work in cohesion for the rapid economic growth to face the new challenges emerging with WTO regime and protect our markets in the quota free era starting from January 1, 2005," he exhorted.
Leader of the Businessmen Panel (BMP) Tariq Sayeed told Dawn that his candidate will concentrate on setting up Research and Development (R/D) to take up issues of trade and industry with the government. He said the BMP candidate will also work for overseas Pakistanis so far neglected at all levels.
He said there was many incidents where Overseas Pakistanis out of sheer love and affection for their country came back and made huge investments but ultimately have to go back with empty hands as they were badly effected by inconsistent government policies or were cheated by people around them.