Aversion of trade monopoly in FPCCI: UBG slams DGTO for adopting 'ineffective' approach

KARACHI: United Business Group (UBG) has criticized the Director General of Trade Organization (DGTO) for adopting an ineffective approach to avert trade monopoly in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

These views were expressed by Khalid Tawab, the presidential candidate of UBG for FPCCI elections 2021 while addressing a gathering of businessmen regarding the upcoming elections in the federation house.

He said that the FPCCI is a respected chamber of commerce and it is the responsibility of every businessman to uphold and benefit this organization for which he worked tirelessly and nurtured this organization.

He said that the government of Pakistan established DGTO to control trade and industry with the main objective of ending the trade monopoly system and the role of associations was given importance in the form of boundaries in this system.

Furthermore, he said that UBG during its tenure established the rule of law and resolved the problems of traders that helped to restore the sanctity of the institution.

He alleged the Election Commission for showing impartiality in the last FPCCI elections and violated the sanctity of the institution along with the occupying forces through bullying and rigging.

Moreover, the DGTO is also showing impartiality by delaying justice that led to creating an impression of monopolization of another trade group, which is against the rules and regulations of the Directorate, he maintained. "We have filed our case in the court with all the evidence and the regulator is bound to take immediate action without any delay or pressure," Tawab said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Arshad Jamal, leader of the All Pakistan Customs Agents Association, alleged that the incumbent body in FPCCI wanted to prolong their illegitimate tenure by using delaying tactics.

He said that the present FPCCI body claimed to have controlled the regulator and the said claim was confirmed by the fact that the regulator was not ready to take any action against them, leaving an impression that the violation of the rules was being done under the patronage of the regulator.

He said that they had filed a petition for violation of the rules last year but it was ignored by the regulator. "This year our petitions are not being entertained," Arshad said and demanded the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to look into the matter and issued necessary instructions to the DGTO.

Moreover, he said that if the purpose of the institution is to favor certain individuals and to establish their monopoly then they would approach all legal forums to ensure that the rule of law should be established in both - FPCCI and the office of the regulator because the tendency to delay justice and the biased approach of the regulator is against the basic tenets of the institution.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021