By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: The Businessmen Alliance, under the leadership of Chairman Asif Sakhi, has launched a strong critique against the current administration of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), accusing an “occupying group” of monopolizing control and mismanaging the chamber’s affairs.
Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, alongside prominent trade figures such as Sharjeel Goplani, Saifullah Khan, Waseeq Hussain Khan, Arshad Khursheed, Muhammad Ahmed Shamsi, Yaqoob Bali, and Ismail Lalpuriya, the alliance voiced its grievances over financial irregularities, lack of inclusivity, and the deteriorating state of trade under KCCI’s current leadership.
A key point of contention was the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO)’s recent decision regarding KCCI, which the alliance vowed to challenge in court. However, they simultaneously urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to uphold the ruling and mandate immediate elections to restore fairness and transparency in KCCI’s operations.
The Businessmen Alliance raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement within KCCI. They pointed out a stark discrepancy in membership fees—while the official fee is set at Rs. 1,200, members are allegedly being charged Rs. 5,000. Additionally, they accused the current leadership of misusing government-granted privileges that were intended to benefit the broader business community but are instead being exploited by a select few.
Comparing KCCI’s performance with other chambers across Pakistan, the alliance noted that trade bodies in cities like Sialkot invest in the welfare and development of their members, while Karachi’s business community continues to be neglected despite contributing significantly to the national economy. They further criticized KCCI for failing to support local traders amid a sharp decline in imports and exports, arguing that businesses in Karachi are being left without adequate representation or assistance.
Urging the trading community to take action, the Businessmen Alliance called for reforms to break the alleged stranglehold of vested interests within KCCI. They accused the chamber’s leadership of favoring select industries—such as the bottled water sector and APTMA (All Pakistan Textile Mills Association)—while sidelining other key business sectors in Karachi.
The alliance lamented that despite Karachi’s status as Pakistan’s economic hub, its traders and industrialists remain underrepresented both nationally and internationally. The failure of KCCI to amplify their voices, provide policy advocacy, or secure benefits for the business community has, they argued, severely hampered the city’s economic potential. Concluding their address, the Businessmen Alliance reaffirmed their commitment to challenging the current administration through legal channels while rallying Karachi’s business community to demand a leadership change in KCCI. They insisted that only a transparent and representative chamber could effectively champion the interests of all traders and industrialists, ensuring that Karachi regains its rightful place at the forefront of Pakistan’s economic landscape.
