ADDRESS BY SIRAJ KASSAM TELI, ACTING PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY KARACHI, AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1998 AT MAJEED BAWANY AUDITORIUM

ADDRESS BY SIRAJ KASSAM TELI, ACTING PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY KARACHI, AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1998 AT MAJEED BAWANY AUDITORIUM.

Immediate Past President, Mr Hanif Janoo, Past Presidents, Leaders of the Businessmen Group, Mr S.M.Muneer, Mr Muhammad Adil, and Mr Riaz Tata, Members of the Chamber, Assalam-o-Alaikum.

It is my proud privilege to chair this important meeting of KCCI, especially in these trying times when the Chamber has been relegated to being a non-entity by those who had dominated the corridors of this august organization for over two decades. The recent election for the Managing Committee has brought about freshness in the portals of this building. The recent election has demonstrated that the members want a complete overhaul of the Chamber and its management. The recent election has proved that the members will come in large numbers to ensure that the change they wanted would become a reality. The huge turnout amply proved without any doubt that members are serious and they would no more accept the old regime that had brought the Chamber down the pedestal and had made it a laughing stock in official and other circles.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Businessmen Group, which is composed of members who could not stand the degradation and destruction of the honor of the Chamber, rallied together and appealed to the voters to assist them in bringing forth fundamental change in the working of KCCI. They also called upon the members to cast their precious votes for persons with fresh faces, for persons with proven merit, and for persons who could sincerely deliver. The large majority came together to vote and in a strong stance, elected a team of dedicated and devoted industrialists and traders who could put into action the AGENDA FOR CHANGE.

What then is this Agenda? It is a manifestation of the aspirations and needs of the general body to restore the dignity of KCCI.. It is the indication of the burning desire of members to sweep away the cobwebs that have come up all over KCCI. It is the revelation of the eagerness and urgency that the members have to ensure that service and support is the motto of KCCI. The AGENDA FOR CHANGE is destined to bring about the fulfillment of these desires.

The first and foremost task is to take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the general body that the Chamber belongs to them and that the Managing Committee is here to be of service and assistance, and not to just eat and pass away their time. Moreover, we will ensure that we utilize the expertise of Associations in Jodia Bazaar, Marriott Road, Cloth Market, etc, and at the same time we would undertake efforts jointly with the Industrial Town Associations to formulate common approaches to the problems besetting the industrial base of Karachi. The Chamber will not work in isolation and the Chamber will not disregard the interests of the members for the benefit of a few.

There is an imperative need to realistically and aggressively take up the most pressing issue of General Sales Tax. We will take into confidence the leaders of FAST and the Small Traders Association to come up with a suitable and workable strategy to impress upon the government to settle this contentious issue in the best interests of the members. We are sure we will be able to convince the government on the logical way to deal with the issue of GST.

There is a need to strongly come forth with the right manner in which to act upon the matters of Import Duties, Tariff anomalies, cumbersome import procedures, misuse of discretionary powers by Customs authorities, and other issues related to the import of goods, raw material and machinery into the country. The Chamber will not shy away from taking up cudgels with the Government over the issue of infrastructure. The City of Karachi has been criminally neglected over the years and the ensuing result has been chaos and confusion in the electricity, water, telephone, and road concerns. The citizens pass sleepless nights in the dark, the citizens wait for hours for the water to trickle from the taps, the citizens become desperate when the phones stop functioning for days and weeks, and the citizens are deprived of suitable roads and lanes to commute on. There is no concern for cleanliness and the roads are littered with garbage and debris. The builders go on erecting monstrosities without impunity, blocking the lanes with their building material. The cops are generally corrupt, the Bhatta Mafia brave and menacing, the officials of various government departments always on the look out for their pound of flesh, and the dacoits are active and dangerous. All in all, these are not the best of times for the traders and the industrialists. But KCCI was asleep and uncaring. That time is now over. That relaxation is now over. That attitude is now over. We now mean business and we will ensure that without the acceptance of the point of view of KCCI, without the concurrence of KCCI, and without the support of KCCI, the government will not make fundamental changes or go for basic rethinking in policy matters. This is the pledge that the Businessmen Group has given to the general body and this is the message we give to the Government.

We are ready to work immediately to get the ball rolling. We need the support and teamwork of the general body in more ways than one. We need the cooperation and efficiency of the administrative staff to put into shape our plans. We need the support of the Past Presidents and other stalwarts to make the AGENDA FOR CHANGE successful. I, on behalf of the Businessmen Group, thank all members of the general body who believed in us and who helped elect our panel. I, on behalf of the Businessmen Group, express our appreciation and recognition to the Chamber’s administrative executives and staff who ensured that the elections were fair and transparent. I, on behalf of the Businessmen Group, are grateful to all those who have been of assistance to us, including our friends in the media, the volunteers from different companies and sectors who worked zealously for us during the campaign, and to all those who helped us, for example, the printers, the caterers, the drivers, the computer people, and so many others. Most importantly, we thank you, the voters, for making all this possible.

I would now like to address the staff of the Chamber. I would like all executives and other staff to complete all pending work, like minutes of previous meetings, proper filing of all documents, posting of all account entries, payment of bills, cleaning up of the offices and other areas, and general improvement in the building structure. I give them four working days to do these tasks. I, therefore, announce that the Chamber will be officially closed for public dealing from September 28 to October 01. During this period only the Chamber staff will be present and they would only attend to the required duties. I expect all affairs to be in order on Friday, when we officially will begin the job to implement our AGENDA FOR CHANGE. I would request all members, the press, and others, to allow the staff to complete the pending obligations so that we may start anew. We hope you will all cooperate with us. We assure you we will make up for any lost time.

I also would like to reiterate that the Businessmen Group will do its utmost to make KCCI the "PREMIER" Chamber again, INSHALLAH ! Thank you and May ALMIGHTY ALLAH Give Us Strength To Achieve Our Objectives. Amen !

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