DGTO directed to ensure fairness in trade bodies’ elections
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has directed the Director General Trade Organisations (DGTO) to ensure that the upcoming nationwide elections of Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations are conducted in a transparent, fair, and credible manner through enhanced monitoring, digitalisation, and institutional reforms.
In a video message to the media after receiving a detailed briefing from Director General Trade Organisations Bilal Khan Pasha on preparations for the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections, the minister said the government remains committed to strengthening the institutional framework governing trade organisations and ensuring that the electoral process meets the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Jam Kamal Khan said that following Parliament’s approval of amendments to the Trade Organisations Act, significant reforms have been introduced to streamline the regulatory framework and improve the functioning of trade organisations. He added that the Ministry of Commerce is extending full institutional support to the DGTO to modernise and digitalise its operations, enabling it to facilitate chambers and trade associations more effectively during the elections and beyond.
The minister directed the DGTO to expedite the digital transformation of election management by establishing a dedicated election portal on the Ministry’s website. The portal will provide election schedules, relevant laws and rules, notifications, voter lists, election results, and other information for stakeholders.
He also instructed the DGTO to develop a digital dashboard for real-time monitoring of election activities across the country and directed all trade organisations to submit election schedules, voter lists, and election results in soft-copy format to facilitate efficient digital management and oversight.
Emphasising transparency and equal access to information, the minister directed that final voter lists be published in accordance with the Trade Organisations Act and Rules. He also called for the issuance of comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure uniform implementation of election procedures across all trade organisations.
Jam Kamal Khan further said that, for the first time, the DGTO has been strengthened with additional human resources to support election monitoring. Officers from the Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the State Life Insurance Corporation, and other government organisations will serve as independent observers and witnesses during the elections to enhance transparency and provide credible documentation for any subsequent complaints or appeals.
The minister said the Ministry is also coordinating with provincial authorities to ensure adequate administrative and security arrangements at larger polling venues where high voter turnout is expected, with the objective of maintaining a peaceful and orderly election environment.
He encouraged chambers and trade associations to modernise their internal election management systems by adopting stronger monitoring mechanisms and greater use of digital tools, noting that transparent and well-documented procedures would significantly reduce post-election disputes and appeals.
Earlier, DGTO Bilal Khan Pasha briefed the minister that the election process for chambers of commerce and trade associations has commenced and will continue until September 30, 2026, while elections for the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will begin on October 1 and conclude by December 31, 2026.
He informed the minister that around 380 registered trade organisations fall under the DGTO’s regulatory framework, of which 320 are scheduled to hold elections this year.
The DGTO also briefed the minister on the complete election process, including preparation of voter lists, scrutiny of nominations, constitution of election commissions, ballot paper management, polling arrangements, monitoring mechanisms, dispute resolution procedures, and post-election appeals. He said comprehensive arrangements have been made to enhance transparency through the deployment of trained election observers, development of SOPs, improved documentation of polling and vote counting, and enhanced coordination with relevant authorities where required.
Concluding his remarks, Jam Kamal Khan directed officials to maintain complete neutrality, ensure strict compliance with the Trade Organisations Act and Rules, and facilitate free, fair, and transparent elections across the country. He also extended his best wishes to all chambers, trade associations, candidates, and voters participating in the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections, expressing confidence that the electoral process would be completed peacefully, transparently, and in a spirit of cooperation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026