It’s a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction that SCCI is achieving its objective of serving and protecting rights of the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for its economic prosperity.
SCCI recently have successfully convinced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments for provision of electricity to KP industries on wheeling charges, gas supply on priority to KP consumers under article-158 of the constitution, 24/7 opening of Torkham border, withdrawal of with-holding tax on filers and compensation package for losses due to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Indeed, realization of constitutional rights will help usher into era of social and economic prosperity through utilization of abundant natural resources for industrial development for the ultimate benefit of its inhabitants and by attracting invaluable foreign investment.
SCCI while keeping its tradition alive is holding Investment Opportunities Conference (IOC) for drawing attention of investors for exploitation of sectors of tourism, hydel (micro/small hydel projects with 30,000 MW potential)/solar/wind energy, mineral (marble, granite, chromite, copper etc.), gemstones (emerald, topaz, tourmaline etc.), honey (20 kinds), agri-business (tobacco, tea, olive, veggies, fruits, dates, fresh/dry fruits, medicinal plants etc.), livestock (goats, sheep, calf, birds, ostrich, poultry, fishery etc.) etc. to overcome losses of business community incurred during war against terror, disasters, refugee influx and IDPs for the last 40-years.
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq and Consul General of Iran in Peshawar Ali Banafsheh Khah have agreed to start a series of online meetings to bring Pakistan-Iran business community closer to each other and bringing duties/tariffs structure equal between Pakistan and Iran. On the occasion, Fuad Ishaq emphasized the need to trade in local currency and sign free trade agreements with Iran, Afghanistan and China. According to the details, Consul General of Iran in Peshawar Ali Banafsheh Khah, held a meeting with President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fuad Ishaq here at the Chamber House, said in a press release on Monday. On this occasion, Commercial Attaché Peshawar Consulate Hossein Maliki, Senior Vice President of the SCCI Sanaullah Khan, Vice President Ijaz Khan Afridi, Secretary General Sajjad Aziz and the translator of the Consulate of Iran were present on this occasion.
Under the platform of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa donated funds over Rs7.8 million for orphan children of the renowned institute, SOS Children Village Pakistan, KP. According to details, SOS Children Village Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Justice (retired) Qalandar Ali Khan and founder of Aziz Jan Institute of Learning and leading industrialist of the KP, Senator Mohsin Aziz arranged an awareness session in the Sarhad chamber for the ‘Kafalat’ of orphan children, which presided over the SCCI president Fuad Ishaq, said in a press release issued here on Sunday. On the occasion, the chamber senior vice president Sanaullah Khan, vice president Ijaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Riaz Arsahd, Haji Muhammad Asif, Malik Niaz Ahmad, former vice president Abidullah Yousafzai, executive member Qurtul Ain, and Ihsanullah, Ghulam Bilal Javed, Javed Ahmad, Saddar Gul, Fazl e Wahid, Ishtiaq Muhammad along with people belonging to industries and trade were present.
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq said new discoveries made in oil, gas and other natural resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but geological survey wasn’t conducted since last two decades, therefore, urged U.S to provide assistance in conducting a geological survey in the province. Emphasizing on further cementing Pak-US bilateral trade and economic relations, the SCCI chief invited US companies and investors to make investment in the potential sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He made these remarks during a meeting with U.S Consul General in Peshawar Mr Shante Moore, who visited the chamber house on Thursday, according to a press release issued here. On the occasion, the SCCI senior vice president Sanaullah Khan, vice president Ijaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Haji Muhammad Afzal, Zahidullah Shinwari, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Sherbaz Bilour, executive members Hafaf Ali Khan, Monawar Khurshid, Kashif Amin, Qurtul Ain and Fahad Amin, Khalid Sultan Khawaja, Ashfaq Ahmad, Saleem Bokhari, Ihsanullah, Muhammad Akhtar, Saddar Gul, Fazl e Wahid, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Women chamber Peshawar vice president Aneela Khalid, traders and industrialists were present.
President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fuad Ishaq urged the government to take pragmatic steps for promotion of foreign investment in the country. The SCCI chief said a conducive environment should be provided for local and foreign investors. He also called for offering special incentives and facilities to foreign investors. The chamber president steered the need of signing the ‘charter of economy’ while keeping view of the prevailing economic instability. Fuad Ishaq was talking to president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Nasir Awan during a meeting here at the chamber’s house, according to a press release issued here on Friday. Ijaz Khan Afridi, vice president of the chamber and senior journalist Aftab Ahmad alias Lala also present during the meeting.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the northwest province of Pakistan. Its total population according to 1998 census is around 17.744 million with an average growth rate of 2.82 per cent. The economically active population ratio of the province is 19.40 per cent. The total area of the province is 74521 square kilometers excluding the tribal belt, which spreads over an area of 27220 square kilometers. There are 7 divisions, 24 districts, 59 tehsil / taluka, 7326 villages with 30 municipal committees, 13 town committees and 11 cantonments in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The tribal belt consists of 7 agencies with 42 tehsil, 2559 villages and 5 town committees. The 1998 census puts the total population of federally administered tribal area at 3.176 million. The unemployment rate of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 26.80 per cent and if the figures of the tribal areas are taken into account, it may swell over to 30 to 35 percent. The literacy rate in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 35.40 per cent and that of the tribal area is 17.40 per cent.