FPCCI played practical role in addressing challenges facing business community: Tanveer

HYDERABAD: The Patron-in-Chief of the United Business Group (UBG), S M Tanveer, stated that the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has played an effective and practical role in addressing the key challenges faced by the business community.

He highlighted that the reduction of the CESS infrastructure tax from 1.85% to 0.85%, now duly legislated, is a major achievement that will soon provide tangible relief to traders and industrialists.

He emphasized that to prevent the country’s economy from remaining dependent on IMF-driven policies, the government and the business community must work together to implement sustainable economic measures. He expressed these views while addressing traders and industrialists of Hyderabad at the invitation of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry President Muhammad Saleem Memon.

Tanveer further announced that FPCCI is in the process of appointing a Chief Executive Officer, under whom a professional research team will operate. This team will identify institutional gaps within government departments and prepare reform-oriented reports, enabling FPCCI to engage the government with data-driven policy recommendations. He noted that when the business community collectively raised its voice against costly IPP agreements, the government was compelled to review the contracts, resulting in savings of approximately PKR 3,600 billion.

He added that FPCCI’s persistent efforts also led to a reduction of Rs. 4.40 per unit in electricity tariffs for industry; however, he maintained that further reduction to Rs. 26 per unit is essential to make Pakistani products competitive in international markets. He reiterated that bringing the interest rate down to single digits remains one of FPCCI’s top priorities, pointing out that industries worldwide are receiving financing at around 6.5%, which encourages industrial expansion and new investments.

Earlier, President HCSTSI Muhammad Saleem Memon appreciated FPCCI’s initiatives, including the establishment of the Business and Human Rights Desk, the organization of tourism and international dialogue forums, and efforts to expand trade opportunities. He acknowledged FPCCI’s proactive stance on reviewing and terminating expensive IPP contracts, paving the way for significant national savings. However, he expressed serious concerns that funds collected under the infrastructure tax in the past were not effectively utilized for infrastructure development.

He stressed that if these funds are transparently invested in roads, industrial zones, and essential facilities, it would not only stimulate business activity but also significantly enhance government revenue. He further urged FPCCI to coordinate closely with the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) to expedite trade body-related matters and proposed the formation of a liaison committee between FPCCI and DGTO to address licensing and other issues efficiently. He reaffirmed that FPCCI and HCSTSI would continue joint efforts to resolve energy, taxation, and infrastructure challenges to strengthen the national economy and create better opportunities for the business community.

On the occasion, FPCCI Vice President (Sindh Region) Bilal Khan stated that while DGTO, like many government institutions, faces operational delays, he assured that licensing issues of all Sindh-based chambers would be addressed on a priority basis. He also mentioned that steps are being taken to reactivate the Hyderabad SITE industrial units in their original operational capacity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026