FPCCI for action against DGTO over whimsical chamber licensing

ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday demanded of the Ministry of Commerce to take action against Director General of Trade Organization (DGTO) for issuing licenses for new chambers to people having no business background.

“Director General of Trade Organization issued numerous licenses for new chambers in different districts during the last few months, which is commendable; however he did it without ensuring whether the license seekers were eligible.

His whimsical approvals are actually creating divisions among the business community while ignoring the real faces,” Riaz Khattak, vice president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry, told a news briefing.

“I conveyed all the objections and reservation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry to the office of the Director General of Trade Organization in an official letter, which, ironically remains unanswered to date.”

In the next breath, Khattak said as per rules and regulations a chamber president was not allowed to hold the office for another year without a gap of a year between the two terms, but in defiance of trade organizations act some of them were enjoying the presidencies for three consecutive years without election --under the aegis of DGTO office.

“We have always acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir for solving the problems of business community across the country but some black sheep are soiling the image of the government by foiling its initiatives for transparency,” a concerned vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry said.

Khattak also revealed that Director General of Trade Organization office, a Ministry of Commerce a department, hardly updated its website on regular basis.

At the end of the media talk, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry leader urged the government to step in on this issue and restore the business community’s confidence.

Office of the Director General of Trade Organization was established in 2007 after the promulgation of Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2007, as a regulatory body to implement provisions of the aforesaid ordinance.