ISLAMABAD: In a pivotal move to embed inclusivity, gender equality, and grassroots representation into Pakistan’s trade governance system, the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), operating under the Ministry of Commerce, has initiated a national series of awareness and consultative sessions aimed at reforming the Trade Organizations Rules (TORs), 2013.
These sessions are being conducted in close collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the apex institution representing the country’s licensed trade bodies.
The reform initiative represents a strategic turning point in the government’s approach to economic policymaking and regulatory engagement. By prioritising inclusivity, particularly the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized business voices, and regionally marginalised trade groups this process seeks to establish a modern, responsive, and participatory regulatory framework for trade organisations.
Formation of multiple chambers in Karachi: KCCI irked by ‘cold’ response from Senate body
At its core, the initiative aligns with Pakistan’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
The consultative sessions will be conducted across Pakistan’s major regions as follows: (i) Karachi – June 16, 2025 (FPCCI Head Office): Hosting trade organisations from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces ;(ii) Lahore – June 18, 2025 (FPCCI Regional Office): Engaging all trade bodies from Punjab; and (iii) Islamabad – June 19, 2025 (FPCCI Capital Office): Gathering organisations from Islamabad Capital Territory and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In line with the goals of universal accessibility and participatory dialogue, the DGTO will employ digital platforms for ensuring input from stakeholders who are unable to attend in person. This hybrid model ensures that no voice is left unheard, particularly from remote, resource-constrained, or underrepresented areas.
These sessions are not simply routine procedural activities. Rather, they represent a deliberate effort by the state to build trust with the business community, update regulatory instruments, and bring trade governance into harmony with contemporary economic realities, international best practices, and local stakeholder needs. Importantly, the revised TOR will also account for the institutional structures outlined in the Companies Act, 2017, under which trade organizations are registered as Section 42 companies, thereby ensuring legal consistency and corporate accountability.
The ongoing reform of the TOR 2013 is envisioned not merely as a legal update, but as a transformative framework for ensuring that all voices in the business landscape—especially women, small traders, and underserved regions—have a seat at the table. By integrating inclusive governance principles into the revised rules, the government seeks to build a regulatory culture that is accountable, accessible, and equitable.
Through these sessions, DGTO is collecting stakeholder input to: (i) Promote SDG-aligned regulatory practices that increase visibility and support for SMEs, informal traders, and women-led enterprises for enabling them to influence the regulatory and business environment more meaningfully ; and (ii) embed digital transformation through online licensing, elections monitoring, real-time compliance systems to ensure transparent and streamlined processes.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments
Comments are closed.