ISLAMABAD: The Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO) has suspended the Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RWCCI) for a period of six months and appointed Muhammad ArifUllah, Director, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Islamabad, as Administrator.
In this regard, the DGTO has issued Notification No 6(15)/2025-TO dated February 6, 2026. Following the appointment, the Executive Committee of the RWCCI stands superseded, and all members of the Executive Committee and office-bearers are deemed to have vacated their respective offices with immediate effect under Section 16(3) of the Trade Organisations Act, 2013.
Under Section 17 of the Trade Organisations Act, 2013, the Administrator shall manage and conduct the affairs of the RWCCI under the supervision and control of the Regulator. The role, functions and responsibilities of the Administrator are as follows: (i) The Administrator shall immediately take charge and custody of all records, books of accounts, computer hardware, data recording devices, seals and other documents belonging to the RWCCI.He shall also take possession of all movable and immovable assets of the Chamber;(ii) the Administrator shall take immediate steps to secure suitable and compliant office premises for the Chamber in accordance with Rule 6(1) of the Trade Organisations Rules, 2013. He shall ensure that the new premises provide a safe, prominent and accessible environment for women entrepreneurs and include the necessary infrastructure for record-keeping and meetings;(iii) the Administrator shall assume control of all RWCCI bank accounts. He shall ensure that the incumbent President and other authorised office-bearers are included as signatories in accordance with the spirit of Rule 24(3) of the Trade Organisations Rules, 2013. The Administrator shall discontinue the manual slip-based fee collection system and implement a transparent, bank-linked transaction system. He shall also commission a financial audit of the Chamber for the period 2021–2025 to address discrepancies identified in the inquiry report; (iv) the Administrator shall ensure that RWCCI fulfills all pending corporate filing requirements with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). He shall also ensure that the Chamber remains fully compliant with the Trade Organisations Act, 2013 and the rules framed thereunder; (v) the primary responsibility of the Administrator shall be to conduct free, fair and transparent elections for the Executive Committee and office-bearers of RWCCI. He shall ensure that the elections are held in strict adherence to Rules 14 to 19 of the Trade Organisations Rules, 2013, with particular emphasis on maintaining the mandatory 50 percent corporate representation and observing the two-year cooling-off period for previous members; and (vi) before the expiry of his six-month tenure, the Administrator shall hand over the management and all records and assets of the Chamber to the newly elected Executive Committee.
The Administrator shall submit monthly progress reports to the Office of the Regulator (DGTO) regarding the rectification of deficiencies identified in the inquiry report dated August 22, 2025. Expenses incurred by the Administrator in discharging his duties shall be met from the income of the trade organisation in accordance with Section 17(3) of the Trade Organisations Act, 2013.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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