Industrial growth: Kundi calls for govt-business collaboration

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that for economic development of the province, promotion of industrial activities and creation of new investment opportunities, the government and business community will have to work together.

The provincial government will extend all possible cooperation to resolve problems faced by the business class and to provide a conducive environment for investment.

He also announced provision of two kanals of land each for district chambers of commerce.

He expressed these views while addressing the ceremony of 2nd All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chambers Conference and Business Excellence Awards organized under the auspices of Pakistan Borders Trade Council (PBTC), in collaboration with Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and United Business Group (UBG) Pakistan, at Governor House Peshawar.

The Governor said that providing a peaceful environment for promotion of industrialization and trade is our top priority. He said that unfortunately in the last 13 years, peace and development were not included in the priorities of the provincial government, which brought the province to the brink of destruction.

The Governor expressed the resolve that now we will have to atone for the past as well and work day and night for the development of the province.

According to details, the chief guest of the ceremony was Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, while renowned business personalities S.M. Tanveer, Hanif Gohar, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and former Senior Vice President of FPCCI Mazhar Ali Nasir participated as guests of honour.

The organisers of the ceremony were prominent business leader and Chairman Pakistan Borders Trade Council Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi and Syed Ali Hamid Kazmi.

In the ceremony, presidents of chambers of commerce, group leaders, FPCCI officials, prominent industrialists, traders, representatives of government institutions and business personalities from different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across the country participated in large numbers.

Participants included Group Leader Kasur Chamber Kashif Khokhar, President Nankana Sahib Chamber Sardar Nadeem, SMEDA Regional Chief Rashid Aman, TDAP Peshawar Region Director Nauman Bashir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) CEO Shahryar Gul, Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project Director Imran Zahoor, Group Leader Abbottabad Chamber, former Vice President FPCCI and Executive Member Haji Iftikhar Ahmed, President Abbottabad Chamber Colonel Sadiq Sultan (R), FPCCI GB Member Syed Shafqat Hussain Kazmi, Founder President Mardan Chamber of Small Traders and Senior Leader UBG Ihsanullah Bacha, President Dr. Yousuf Jamal, EC Member Rizwanullah, Bajaur Chamber Group Leader Haji Lali Shah, President Hazrat Usman Shah, GB Member Hazrat Bilal Shah, Executive Committee Member FPCCI Haji Ataur Rehman Yousafzai, Swat Chamber President Yousuf Ali, Adnan Ali, EC Member Ali Muhammad Khan, GB Member Khurshid Anwar: Chitral Chamber Group Leader Mahboob Azam, President Chitral Chamber and EC Member Fahad Azam, North Waziristan Chamber President and GB Member Haji Qadirullah Wazir, Mansehra Chamber President Syed Mumtaz Ahmed Shah, GB Member Tausif Manzoor Khattak, Kohat Chamber President Engineer Qaiq Shah, EC Member Mudassar Afif, GB Member Azmat Jamil Bangash, Nowshera Chamber President Shahzad Alam, NCCI Group Leader Sardar Fakhr-e-Alam Khan, Executive Committee Member Muneeb Ahmed, GB Member Inayat Ali Shah, South Waziristan Chamber President EC Member FPCCI Saifur Rehman Wazir, GB Member Rasool Khan, Bannu Chamber President Nasir Khan Bangash, GB Member Shakirullah Khan, Kurram Small Chamber President Malik Zartaj Hussain, Malik Sohail Haider, Patron-in-Chief Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sarafa Gems and Jewellery Association Haji Amin Hussain Babar, Secretary General Haji Nadir Khan Khalil (Khan Baba), EC Member Livestock Exporters Association of Pakistan Muhammad Haroon Sabir, GB Member Syed Tahir Abbas, Chairman Gemological Association of Pakistan (GAP) Shakeel Wahidullah Khan, Senior Journalist Qazi Fazlullah, Abuzar Afridi, Jawad Shinwari, Lower Dir Chamber representative former President Jan Alam Badshah, Malakand Chamber representatives, Women Chamber Presidents President Kurram Women Chamber Dr. Humaira Anbreen, Group Leader Mardan Women Chamber Anbreen Khan Hoti, President Mardan Women Chamber Ayesha Durrani, President Nowshera Women Chamber Rabia Taj, President Abbottabad Women Chamber Saima Rizwan, President Malakand Women Chamber Naila Syed, Ayesha Syed including other business leaders from different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On the occasion of the conference, all Executive Committee (EC) and General Body (GB) members of FPCCI nominated by different chambers of commerce of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured full support and complete cooperation to S.M. Tanveer, Patron-in-Chief of United Business Group (UBG) and FPCCI presidential candidate for elections 2027-2028.

On this occasion, the business leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed the resolve that united and vigorous role will be played for the success of S.M. Tanveer in the upcoming FPCCI elections.

Business leaders expressed confidence that the leadership, experience and services of S.M. Tanveer for the business community will play an important role in further strengthening FPCCI, effectively highlighting the problems of traders and industrialists and stabilizing the economy of Pakistan.

On this occasion, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi assured full cooperation and complete patronage for the business community.

He expressed resolve to promote business activities in the province, industrial development and strengthening chambers of commerce, and made the important announcement of providing two kanals of land each for district chambers of commerce.

The Governor emphasized that strong partnership between government and business community is indispensable for economic development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, promotion of investment, increase in industrial activities and creation of new employment opportunities.

He assured that all possible cooperation will be extended for resolving problems faced by the business class and providing a conducive environment for investment in the province.

During the ceremony, presidents of different chambers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and business leaders presented proposals regarding industrial and trade problems, business opportunities, investment possibilities and economic development of their respective districts.

In the conference, important matters like promotion of trade in border districts of the province, trade links with Pak-Afghan and Central Asian countries, activation of industrial zones, energy problems, business facilities and making the role of private sector more effective were also discussed.

In the Business Excellence Awards ceremony, personalities and institutions rendering services in prominent business performance, industrial development, trade, investment and business sector were encouraged. This initiative was termed as an important development in terms of recognition of business capabilities in the province, promotion of positive competition and fostering business trends in the new generation.

Organizers of the ceremony Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi and Syed Ali Hamid Kazmi, while thanking the distinguished guests, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UBG leadership, FPCCI officials, chamber presidents from across the country, representatives of government institutions and business community, said that the basic objective of this conference is to unite the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a common platform, strengthen contacts between district chambers, promote effective coordination between government and private sector and formulate a joint strategy for economic development of the province.

They said that such initiatives will continue in future with mutual cooperation of Pakistan Borders Trade Council, Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry and United Business Group so that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can be made a strong hub of trade, industry, investment and regional connectivity.

The full participation of the business community in the ceremony and the announcement by the Governor to provide land for district chambers was termed as an important development of the conference.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026