RELIEF PAY-ORDERS DISBURSEMENT PROCEDURE DEFINED; PAY-ORDERS FOR CLAIMS OVER 1.5 MILLION WILL BE ISSUED ON COMPLETION OF SCRUTINY

Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee’s Spokesman, A.Q. Khalil has said that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s seven (7) loss assessment committees, in the presence of authorized representatives of affected markets, have meticulously completed the assessment and scrutiny of 2600 claims of affectees of Bolton Market Incident, and it is decided that relief payments through pay-orders will start in phases from 29th January, 2010. Chairman Businessmen Group and former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli has already announced that the pay-orders distribution work to affectees will start from 29th January, 2010 and the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari will begin the disbursing phase while distributing the relief pay-orders to affectees. In the second phase, Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ibad Khan, Provincial Ministers, City Nazim Karachi, will visit Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry to distribute the pay-orders to the affectees. According to the Committee Spokesman, latest colour passport size photograph, original computerized national identity card with attested copy must be readily available with each affectee because it is decided that affectees/ claimants will receive their claims themselves personally and thereby will submit an affidavit of claim acceptance, endorsing with signature and thumb impression in the presence of authorized market representative so that the whole procedure will be transparently maintained.

Spokesman appealed all the affectees to keep in touch with the chairmen of KCCI’s seven loss assessment committees who will issue the payment schedules, and abide the instructions accordingly. A.Q. Khalil further said that the affectees must not authorize any person on their behalf because payments will be made only to the real affectees of the incident. According to the Spokesman, Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee has already decided that after the completion of payment phase of claims upto Rs.1.5 million, in second phase the payments of claims above Rs.1.5 million will start immediately after completion of scrutiny. He said that claim will be given to every honest affectee who has furnished his/her loss details with honestly, and after completion of scrutiny, relief pay-order will be issued.

IRANIAN COMMERCE ORGANIZATION VISITS KCCI TO EXPLORE BILATERAL TRADE PROSPECTS

“Non-existence of Banking System between Pakistan & Iran is the major impediment in the progress of bilateral trade”, expressed by President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry in a meeting held with the 25 members Iranian delegation representing the Commerce Organization of Mashad, Khorsan Razavi Province, Iran. Abdul Majid focused that the Pak-Iran relationship is deep rooted and the bilateral trade potential is about 1 billion dollars which is yet to be achieved due to certain barriers out of which lack of banking system is the core obstacle. He asserted on the need of Iranian Bank Branch in Pakistan and Pakistani Bank Branch in Iran to strengthen the trade ties. Abdul Majid informed that the KCCI has taken up the said issue of establishing Banking channel between Pakistan & Iran with Prime Minister of Pakistan, Federal Minister of Finance & Governor of SBP. Abdul Majid also asserted on the need of developing the train-logistic service from Pakistan to Iran and Turkey under the ECO forum.

The President KCCI, earlier, warmly welcomed the Iranian Commercial Counsellor & 25 members trade delegation from Iran and gave them a categorical enlightenment on the Trade prevalent between the two friendly nations. He said that the present trade volume which is less than 1 billion USD is not at all satisfactory, we had a lot of potential and untapped sectors of trade which if pursued the trade volume might shoot up to the great extent, he added. He termed lack of interest, Banking & remittances problem, and Shipping and land transportation related problems being the chief factors attributed for the low trade volume. He drew the attention of Iranian Commercial Counsellor & trade delegation towards resolution of said factors for enhanced trade benefiting the common man of two brotherly nations. In order to boost up the representation of Iranian products in Pakistan, he extended invitation to Iranian Companies for Exhibition of Iranian products in KCCI’s “My Karachi Exhibition” to be held in June 2010.

Chairman, Businessmen Group, Siraj Kassam Teli, speaking at the occasion, highlighted that to strengthen the bilateral relations, trade plays imperative role and therefore it should be explored. He on behalf of Business Community ensure entire cooperation in this regards.

Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Investment & former President-KCCI, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, while addressing the Iranian Delegation, enlightened them about the profuse trade and investment opportunities available in Sindh Province. He informed about the investment potential of Thar Coal Resources in Sindh which is larger than the Oil Reserves of Saudi Arabia & Iran in terms of its volume. He also informed about the establishment of Pak-Japan Economic Cooperation Zone in the vicinity of Karachi and offered that a Pak-Iran Economic Zone may be established if the Iranian counterparts express their keen interest. Being the Chairman of Board of Investment of Sindh, he also ensure his best cooperation and support to the interested Iranian investors for investment in Sindh province.

Commercial Counsellor of Iran, Ahmad Fasihi, while speaking on the occasion, expressed hope that with the removal of existing hurdles in the way of trade, and establishing a banking channel between two countries, the trade volume in the current year would reach over one billion dollars. He said that last year Pakistan's export to Iran increased by 80 percent as compared to previous year, and touched 279 million dollars. Likewise, Iran's exports to Pakistan increased by 11 percent to 278 million dollars. He said that despite a high potential level, the volume of bilateral trade of the two countries is about 560 million dollars (excluding oil) which is insufficient in view of existing trade potential.

The leader of Iranian trade delegation from Khorasan Razavi Province and Vice President, Commerce Organization of Mashad, M H Kamranfar, has emphasised the need for establishing banking channel for enhancing two-way trade. Speaking at the meeting, he said that both countries have lot of potential to boost two-way trade. However, the trade relations were not reflective of the true potential and to explore the existing potential exchange of trade delegation, person to person. He said that the purpose of the visit by the delegation was to develop person to person contact with Pakistani counterparts to improve trade and economic ties.

KARACHI CHAMBER WILL OPEN ON SUNDAY TO FACILITATE AFFECTEES FOR FILING THEIR CLAIMS

Chairman Businessmen Group & former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli, President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, Vice Chairmen & former Presidents of KCCI, Tahir Khaliq, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki, Anjum Nisar, Senior Vice President-KCCI, Rasheeduddin Rashid, Vice President-KCCI, Javed Ahmed Vohra, and KCCI Managing Committee Members, in a press note, announced to open the KCCI’s Secretariat on Sunday, January 17, 2010, in order to facilitate the affectees of Bolton Markets and other adjoining markets of M. A. Jinnah Road.

They ensured that Office Bearers, Managing Committee Members, Heads and members of seven Sub-committees and Secretariat staff will be available on Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 11:00 AM till 04:00 PM to facilitate, and the affectees and authorized representatives of affected markets may contact KCCI to submit their claims, survey / maps of damaged / destroyed markets / buildings for reconstruction along with necessary information. They also requested that claim forms, survey / offers for reconstruction of damaged / destroyed buildings must be submitted positively by January 20, 2010, afterwards the same would not be received and entertained.

KARACHI CHAMBER & KESC ARRANGED KHULI KACHEHRI AT KCCI

As a result of meeting of President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad with Mr. Tabish Gauhar, CEO, KESC on December 10, 2009, KCCI has arranged a ‘Khuli Kacheri’ at Chamber’s auditorium on December 17, 2009 to facilitate KCCI members regarding KESC issues specially for long pending issues. It was first time in the history that a “Khuli Kacheri” was arranged. Members were invited to forward their complaints to KESC for taking prompt and early action to resolve the issues. Members were very keen to participate in Khuli Kachery as each member individually presented his case and all issues were thoroughly discussed and considered in the meeting.

The most frequent issues pertaining to KESC like Excess Billing, Average Billing, Fixed charges, unjustified arrears, unannounced load shedding, testing of electricity meters, replacement of electricity meters and old wires in absence of consumer, delay in load extension, low voltage, delay in new connections and poor performance of BOC’s staff were discussed.

Mr. Mehmood Ahmed, General Manager, Mr. Shariq Subhan, Deputy General Manager, Ch. Tanveer Arshad, Manager and Mr. Sandeep Kumar, Manager, KESC were the representatives from KESC.

Mr. Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Chairman, Public Sector Utilities Power & Gas Sub-Committee, KCCI specially highlighted the long pending issues regarding new connection and extension in load. He expressed his gratitude to KESC officials for their cooperation. He also said that this liaison will be continued in future also. He also announced that a next follow-up meeting will be held after one week for further discussion and to review the issues.

Mr. Mehmood Ahmed, General Manager, KESC while responding to all queries assured the members that their cases will be resolved soon. He also said that we need to study the cases and will try to resolve the issues in two-three day or within a week time.

The Khuli Kachehri was very successful. All other Associations and Trade bodies were also invited to present their respective issues. The KESC has appreciated the suggestions given by the members and assured that all valuable proposals will be considered.

The meting was also attended by Mr. Rasheeduddin Rashid, Senior Vice President, KCCI, Mr. Javed Ahmed Vohra, Vice President, KCCI, Managing Committee Members, Representative form Small Traders and a large numbers of KCCI members.