ISLAMABAD: The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry marked a historic transition of leadership at a formal handing-over ceremony held in Islamabad on 19th April. Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi witnessed the taking over of SAARC CCI Presidency by Chandi Raj Dhakal a Nepali industrialist from outgoing President Md. Jashim Uddin from Bangladesh.
Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the FPCCI, opened the proceedings with a gracious welcome address, in which he extended his warm greetings to the delegations representing the SAARC nations.
Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, speaking as Chief Guest, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to SAARC’s ideals. “Pakistan believes that South Asia cannot rise without regional integration. We have kept our borders open for trade in spirit, our airspace for connectivity, and our hearts for people-to-people exchanges,” he said, assuring full government and private sector support to the new President.
In his inaugural address, incoming President Dhakal laid out a bold vision to transform SAARC CCI from a dialogue-focused forum into an action-oriented platform delivering measurable outcomes. He emphasised that business cannot stop because of political challenges, pledging to use SAARC CCI as a neutral platform for business diplomacy.
Outgoing President Md. Jashim Uddin reflected on his tenure, highlighting the completion of the SAARC CCI Headquarters building in Islamabad a landmark achievement for institutional independence and financial sustainability.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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