Latest news with #FaisalabadChamberofCommerce&Industry
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FCCI chief visits Makkah Chamber: ‘Direct contacts between traders should be promoted'
FAISALABAD: Brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia must be translated into economic terms and in this regard direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries should be promoted on war footings, said Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). He was discussing matters of mutual interest with Abdullah Omer Qazi, Chairman Tourism Committee of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce & Industry during his visit to the MCCI in Saudi Arabia. He expressed satisfaction over the modest increase in trade volume between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and said that private sectors of two countries should play a proactive role after improvement in trade cooperation at the government levels. Rehan Naseem Bharara invited the leadership of MCCI to visit FCCI. Abdullah Omer Qazi accepted the invitation and said that there were huge chances of investment in Pakistan and Saudi investors would exploit this available and untapped potential for mutual benefit. He particularly appreciated the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Pakistan and said that it would open new avenues of direct foreign investment particularly from Saudi Arabia. He also explained in detail the vision 2030 of Saudi leadership and said that it would help the transformation of the Kingdom into a modern, dynamic and progressive country. Earlier Secretary General MCCI Dr Thamer Ahmad Baazeem received and welcomed the President FCCI. Later Rehan Naseem Bharara and Abdullah Omer Qazi exchanged shields of their respective organizations. Fahad Saud Damanhouri Director Business Development of MCCI, Hafiz Shafique Kashif former ECM FCCI and Chaudhary Kashif Nawaz Randhawa were also present during this meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
High Commissioner of Kenya visits FCCI
FAISALABAD: Lt General Peter Mbogo Nijru (R), High Commissioner of Kenya has appreciated the 'Look Africa' policy of the Government of Pakistan urging upon the business community of Faisalabad to fully harvest its dividends by enhancing bilateral trade and making investment in Kenya. Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said that textile was the only globally recognized sector of Faisalabad but he has now come to know that pharmaceutical, chemicals, food processing, IT and other sectors are now also growing at a much faster pace. He said that Pakistani investors could invest in Kenya to produce different commodities in addition to its processing, packaging and exports to African and other countries. He mentioned the African Union and said that products manufactured in Kenya could be exported to different countries without any duty. 'Similarly Kenyan products have duty and quota free access to some European and American markets,' he said and added Pakistani investors could also explore this opportunity. He said that we must negotiate trade agreements between Pakistan and Kenya to give a quantum jump to our bilateral trade. He said that Kenya also offers huge opportunities for the promotion of tourism as it has scenic valleys like Gilgit and Baltistan. He also congratulated FCCI on its Golden Jubilee Year and hoped that it would make tremendous progress in the coming years. Earlier Rehan Naseem Bharara, President FCCI welcomed the Kenyan High Commissioner and said that our Ministry of Commerce was negotiating on an agreement to provide access to the Pakistani exporters to the eight different African countries including Kenya. He said that Pakistan was importing huge quantities of tea and coffee from Kenya and its investors must consider the cultivation and processing of these products in Pakistan. He also mentioned some tariff barriers and said that the Kenyan Government should revisit existing tariffs particularly on confectionary products. He also stressed the need to promote direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries and pointed out that some Pakistani banks are reluctant to accept LCs issued by the Kenyan banks. He said that this issue should be resolved on a top priority basis to streamline the banking channels. Naveed Akram Sheikh, Mirza Zahid Iqbal, Jawad Shafique, Mirza Muhammad Ashraf Mughal and Mian Muhammad Tayyab took part in the question answer session while Qaisar Shams Gucha, SVP offered vote of thanks. Rehan Naseem Bharara decorated Peter Mbogo Nijru with a special pin of FCCI Golden Jubilee. He also presented a FCCI shield to the Kenyan High Commissioner while they also exchanged gifts with each other. Bonface Njoroge Njuguna, Commercial Attaché of Kenya was also present during this meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology: ‘Govt, FCCI, business community to add new emergency block'
FAISALABAD: The business community of Faisalabad is playing a key role in the comprehensive development of Faisalabad in addition to providing latest health facilities to its inhabitants, said Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). He said that Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) was overburdened with the heavy influx of cardiac patients from all over the region and Government in collaboration with FCCI and business community has decided to add a new emergency block with 70 beds which could be further expanded up to 250 beds. Bharara appreciated the generosity of the business community and said that leading local philanthropists including Seth Iftikhar, Mian Javed Iqbal, Farrukh Zaman and Mian Sheroz in close collaboration with FCCI and administration have focused on this public welfare project which would be completed with the donations of the business community. He also thanked Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Secretary Health Azmat Mehmood, Special Secretary Health Tariq Rehmani, Divisional Commissioner Madam Maryum Khan and Deputy Commissioner Captain Retired Nadeem Nasir for their keen interest in this project. He said that it would not only facilitate the local heart patients but also cater to the immediate needs of the adjoining divisions. He said that FCCI would play a motivational and catalytic role for its early completion while Seth Iftikhar would personally supervise the construction work. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Skilled workers can pave way for industrial revolution'
FAISALABAD: Focused approach is required to produce skilled manpower fully capable of meeting the current and future industrial challenges instead of producing a force of unfit and unemployed youth, said Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). Addressing a delegation of HEC and ICCI, he said that only skilled workers could pave the way for the industrial revolution and in this connection, we must make collaborative efforts with all concerned stakeholders including industrialists and scholars. He appreciated researchers and faculty members deputed in ORIC and said that industry-academia linkages are imperative to give a kick start to the industrial growth. He mentioned some leading industrial units which have made tremendous progress after adopting new and innovative technologies. He said that universities should also revisit their syllabus to synchronize it with the market driven needs. He appreciated the efforts of ICCI to arrange this tour of faculty members drawn from various universities and provide them an opportunity to directly interact with the leading industrial giants of Faisalabad. He appreciated the decision of HEC to declare internship compulsory for the young graduates but stressed the need for proper legislation at the Government level declaring internship as mandatory. He said that about 70% of the current syllabus is irrelevant for the industry and it should be revised in consultation with the stakeholders from the concerned industry. He said that once textile was the only iconic representation of Faisalabad but now it has diversified its industrial portfolio. 'It has state of the art diaper, Hyundai and tile units in addition to many more established with domestic and foreign investment,' he said and underlined the importance of developing indigenous technologies so that we could consolidate the economy after making our defence impregnable. Dr Habib Aslam Gaba Convener FCCI Standing Committee on Industry Academia Linkages termed leading businessmen as industrial PhD holders which they have gained through their life long struggle and practical experience. He said that the universities should also recognize their expertise in this field and plume them with honorary PhD degrees. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Minister visits FCCI: ‘Serious efforts are being made to resolve issues facing industries'
FAISALABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, while visiting the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the government attaches great importance to Faisalabad and serious efforts are being made to resolve the problems faced by the industries of this city. He said that after the success of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, a new industrial policy will be announced very soon to include Pakistan among the world's 20 largest economies. Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) said that after the success of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, it has become imperative that we also build the economy on a stable and sustainable basis. He paid tribute to the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Chief of the Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu for the brilliant victory in the fight for justice. He also mentioned the problems faced by the industrial sector and said that the government should create maximum ease of doing business. He also called for the establishment of a passport office in the Faisalabad Chamber for the convenience of members and demanded that the Pindi Bhattian Faisalabad Motorway be made 6-lane. He said that according to the 1934 Act, only petroleum goods come under the definition of DPL, so this provision should not be applied to imported chemicals. He stressed the need to create convenience for traders and reform the taxation system and said that one IT University should be established in Faisalabad as announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
