RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala has stated that the entire business community including small traders, importers, exporters, sector-specific trade bodies and industrial town associations have exhibited complete unity with BMG by extending full support to its candidates in the forthcoming elections of Karachi Chamber so that the newly elected BMG team in collaboration with all stakeholders could collectively raise ‘one voice’ from KCCI’s platform for resolving the infrastructure issues being faced by Karachi.

While introducing 30 candidates for KCCI Elections at a press conference held here at BMG House on Wednesday, Chairman BMG said that after thrashing the opponents in KCCI elections, BMG team, which will be led by the newly elected President Jawed Bilwani, would make all out efforts so that the federal as well as provincial governments could be urged to improve the awful infrastructure of Karachi where the road network has deteriorated sharply, particularly after this year’s Monsoon rains while other basic facilities including gas, electricity, water and other municipal and educational facilities were hardly available.

“I appeal KCCI members to cast record number of votes in this year’s elections so that the federal as well as provincial governments could be reminded that KCCI is the most power institution and a leading voice of business community whose reasonable demands have to be fulfilled at any cost,” he added.

Vice Chairmen BMG Anjum Nisar, Jawed Bilwani, Mian Abrar Ahmed, General Secretary BMG AQ Khalil, Acting President KCCI Altaf A Ghaffar, Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Barry, Former Presidents and other BMGIANs were also present on the occasion.

Zubair Motiwala further stated that the entire business community including seven industrial town associations, representatives of small traders and all other stakeholders have joined hands with BMG to jointly fight for the common cause of seeking due attention for Karachi which, unfortunately, was being treated like an orphan regardless of the fact that this great city, despite all odds, continues to contribute 67 percent revenue to the national exchequer and 95 percent to provincial kitty in addition to 54 percent share in the exports.

“We, being the taxpayers, fervently appeal the government to give special attention to Karachi by immediately holding dialogue with KCCI and all other stakeholders so that the living as well as doing business conditions here could be improved and brought at par with Lahore and Islamabad which would certainly prove favourable for the economy,” he said, adding that if an ailing Karachi city, which also faces serious law and order situation due to rising street crimes, contributes 67 percent, can anyone imagine what will be its contribution if the city is made healthier.

He stressed that in addition to improving the infrastructure of Karachi, special attention must also be given to deteriorating law and order situation so that the businessmen and the citizens could live peacefully.

Highlighting the successful journey of Businessmen Group, Zubair Motiwala said that Late Siraj Kassam Teli laid the foundation of Businessmen Group in 1998 and its candidates have constantly been winning KCCI’s elections without losing a single seat since last 25 years and many elections have been won unopposed which is a clear testimony of our dedicated services to the entire business & industrial community of Karachi without any discrimination. “BMG has been effectively governing KCCI under the policy of ‘Public Service’ and has transformed KCCI from a financially strained institution in 1998 to a self-sustainable, stable and stronger organization,” he added. Referring to opponent party’s misleading ‘Change’ slogan, he said,

“What change do they want to see at KCCI which is an institution where modern technologies have been introduced and excellent work was being carried out by the Secretariat, Research & Development Department, Media Department and all other departments that cannot be compared with any other Chamber of the country. Moreover, the opposition cannot prove corruption of a single rupee by any BMG member during the last 25 years.

He said that KCCI has constituted a think-tank of professionals including three PHDs, Chartered Accountants and Energy Experts to efficiently combat with the upcoming economic-related issues and give resolution on pure technical and professional grounds based on legitimate arguments keeping in view the current financial scenario.