20000202

KCCI, HCCI to jointly

prepare proposals

for next budget: Rafi

RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Amjad Rafi has said that Karachi and Hyderabad chambers would jointly prepare the budgetary proposals for the fiscal year 2000-2001 and added that the first meeting in this regard would be held in Karachi on February 7.

He inaugurated a 'Brochure' and booking of stalls for 2000 Trade Fair' being organised by the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Dayaldas Club here on Tuesday.

Karachi Chamber office bearers Hanif Lakhani, Abdus Sami Khan and 15 members of the Karachi Chamber executive committee were also present on the occasion.

Besides, HCCI president Mehmood Ahmed, Senior Vice-President Dr Zulfiqar Yousfani, Vice President Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui and executive committee members were also present.

The KCCI chief said that a meeting of the representatives of all the chambers of the province would also be invited on February 15 to discuss all problems confronting the tax-payers of the province, especially the revival of the octroi duty and the export tax.

He said the business community has always remained in the forefront to mitigate the sufferings of the people during calamities and added that the Karachi Chamber had distributed relief goods to the cyclone victimes in Thatta to the tune of Rs 5 million and also provided water tanks to the people of Orangi Town in Karachi to the tune of Rs 2.5 million.

He said Karachi Chamber was also running a hospital.

Briefing the gathering about the second Trade Fair 2000, HCCI Senior Vice President Dr Zulfiqar Yousfani said that about 275 stalls would be set up at the fair and added that reputed companies of Karachi would take parts in the Fair which would be inaugurated by Sindh Governor Air Marshal Azeem Daudpoto (Retd).

Yousufani said that through the efforts fo the Hyderabad Chamber the Sindh pavilion would be set up, in Dubai at the Annual Festival to promote the sale of Sindhi handicraft and other manufactures.

Later, talking to newsmen at the Hyderabad Press Club Amjad Rafi said that the business community had not accepted the GST but hastened to add that the tax payers were not aversed to paying taxes but they were worried about the complicated procedure and high rate of the GST.

He said during a meeting with Malik Riaz of the CBR, some problems had been resolved but negotiations on the GST were continuing.

He said a large number of industrial units were lying closed in Karachi, Hyderabad, Kotri and Nooriabad due to the ad hoc policies of the rulers which were terminated when the new rulers took over.

The KCCI chief said that this was the main reason that the local and the foreign entrepreneurs were shy of investing in Pakistan.

He said the seizure of foreign currency accounts was a decision based on foolishness for which the country and the people were still suffering. He pointed out that unless the investors were given fool-proof guarantee, no further investment would take place in the country.

He announced a donation of Rs 10,000 for the Hyderabad Press Club.

The leaders of trade and industry were welcomed by HPC President and Lala Rehman Samoo and General Secretary Ansar Naqvi. The guests were also presented with Ajraks.