February 25, 2022 PESHAWAR: A memorandum of understanding (MoUs) was signed between Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Federal Insurance Ombudsman (FIO), meant to promote joint collaboration, especially to take prompt actions and re-addressal of business community complaints.  The agreement was signed by SCCI president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad and Federal Insurance Ombudsman (FIO) Islamabad, Dr Khawar Jamil during a ceremony held here at the Chamber’s House on Friday.  On the occasion, the SCCI’s Senior Vice President Imran Khan Mohmand, Vice president Javed Akhtar, former president FPCCI Ghazanfar Bilour, Industrialists Association Hayatabad Peshawar president Malik Imran Ishaq, vice president PAJCCI Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Advisor/ Incharge Islamabad/Peshawar Ms Riffat Shaheen Qazi, Advisor/Incharge Lahore Abdul Basit, Incharge/Advisor Multan Muhammad Azam Joiya, DG FIO Secretariat Karachi Mubashir Naeem Siddique, Incharge Administration Peshawar Shoaib Ahmad Siddique were present.  The meeting was also attended by the chamber’s executive members Naeem Qasmi, S Minhajuddin and Ihsanullah, Fahad Amin, Ishtiaq Ali, Syed Aftab Hayat along President Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peshawar Shahida Perveen, SVP Aleena Khalid, VP Saima Amajd, the women’s chamber members, industrialists and traders.  Hasnain Khurshid while addressing the function stressed the need for strengthening collaboration with the Federal Insurance Ombudsman office. He informed the business community has faced insurance related issues.  He urged the FIO office to take pragmatic steps to promptly re-address grievances of the business community and provide them relief.  On the occasion, Mr Khurshid suggested the SCCI’s IFC/Web portal should be directly linked with the Federal Insurance Ombudsman Office Islamabad.  Dr Khawar Jameel, on the occasion, fully agreed with the SCCI proposals and he also flouted a proposal for formation of a joint committee between FIO and SCCI as well as appointment of an official of the chamber as focal person to take up issues and complaints of the business community on daily basis and relief them promptly.  The chamber’s president emphasized the need for early release of outstanding dues of the business community by the insurance companies to ease their economic owes. He suggested the establishment of a central database system.  Hasnain Khurshid urged the FIO to implement the SCCI’s recommendations to provide swift relief to the traders’ community.  Later, Dr Khawar Jamil while speaking on the occasion assured the business community to take instant actions on their complaints and provide them relief at every level.  He enlightened the participants about the significance and key functions of the FIO office and asked the business community to approach his office to take prompt actions on their complaints.  Dr Khawar said that FIO had ensured releases over Rs2billion payments through banks to affectees since the last two to three years, which is a major achievement of this organisation.  He informed that as many as 1800 complaints had been registered in 2019, which were gradually increased by 3000 complaints and 3,800 in 2020 and 2021 respectively. He added the huge backlog of cases/complaints occurred owing to the outbreak of novel coronavirus pandemic.  The FOI said the reforms process had been initiated, which was producing positive results and ensuring quick relief to complaints.  Ghazanfar Bilour during his speech pointed out that public and private insurance companies had been looting people by using various tactics through means of commercial banks. He urged the FIO office to take actions against the mafia involved in this illegal business and provide business community prompt relief.  

سرحد چیمبر آف کامرس اینڈ انڈسٹری Ú©Û’ صدر حسنین خورشید احمد ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی Ú©Û’ اجلاس Ú©ÛŒ صدارت کر رہے ہیں۔ اس موقع پر ایف Ù¾ÛŒ سی سی آئی Ú©Û’ سابق صدر غضنفر بلور Ù— سرحد چیمبر Ú©Û’ سینئر نائب صدر عمران خان Ù— نائب صدر جاوید اختر Ù— سرحد چیمبر Ú©Û’ سابق صدر اور ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی Ú©Û’ رکن شیر باز الیاس غضنفر بلور Ù— سرحد چیمبر Ú©Û’ سابق صدر فیض محمدفیضی Ù— ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی Ú©Û’ اراکین محمد ارشد صدیقی ٗزرک خان Ù— نعیم قاسمی Ù— محمد وقار ٗمحمد اورنگزیب Ù— ظہور خان Ù— حاجی غلام حسین Ù— ایس منہاج الدین ٗملک محسن سجاد Ù— احمد مصطفی Ù— اعجاز خان آفریدی اورانڈسٹریلسٹ ایسوسی ایشن حیات آباد پشاورکے صدر ملک عمران اسحق Ù— سرحد چیمبر Ú©Û’ سینئر نائب صدور انجینئر منظور الٰہی Ù— انجینئر سعد خان زاہد Ù— سابق نائب صدور ملک نیاز محمد اعوان Ù— حارث مفتی Ù— جنید الطاف  Ø§ÙˆØ± Ù†Ø¯ÛŒÙ… رؤف Ù— صدر Ú¯Ù„ اور فیض رسول بھی موجود ہیں۔ 

Traders flay govt 'anti-business' policies, hike in PoL, electricity, gas prices PESHAWAR: Businessmen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while describing increasing prices of electricity, gas and petroleum products, depreciation of Pakistani rupee against dollar, couple with additional burden of foreign debts as the present government sheer incompetence and reflection of inconsistency economic policies and asked to cut down levies on petrol commodities to provide relief of poverty-stricken people. Speaking at a news conference here at chamber house here on Friday, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad said that the government has continuously made claims on putting the country’s economy in the right direction, but actually, it had brought on collapse during the last three years. The SCCI chief noted that neither improvement in the country’s exports were seen but the trade deficit has been further widened and brought the economy under severe stress after obtaining further loans from foreign monetary institutions. He criticized the country’s economy for being mortgaged with international financial institutions. Furthermore, he observed the revenue collection targets had not been made difficult but impossible. He said the selling of electricity and gas at high rates in the province, wherein production is surplus, tantamount to usurping constitutional rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hasnain Khurshid asked the government to take back hike in electricity, gas and petrol prices forthwith. Otherwise, he warned the business community will compel on agitation. Brushing aside claims of improving Pakistan’s position in rank of Ease of Doing Business, the SCCI president said, according to rough estimates, the country's rank has been further down in EoDB instead of any upgrading. He said the increasing trade deficit, devaluation of Pakistan rupee against dollar, declining exports are a glaring example of the present government incompetence and flawed economic policies. Although, he said a nominal firmness in Pakistani rupee against dollar was seen after pledging financial aid by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, he said the fresh Saudi loans would further put burden on the national economy as this is aid not grant, which would be paid off with interest, which couldn’t be in the best interest of the country. Besides, SCCI Senior Vice President Imran Khan Mohmand, former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former president Riaz Arshad, former vice presidents Abdul Jalil Jan, Haris Mufti,  executive members Fazal Muqeem Khan, Farhad Asfandyar, Ejaz Khan Afridi, Naeem Qasmi, Ghlum Bilal Javed, Sohail Javed, Amin Babar, a large number of traders, exporters and importers were present during the presser. Hasnain Khurshid blamed the increasing line losses of power distribution companies are behind the hike in power tariffs and expressed anguish over the DISCOs inefficiency to control over the line losses and improvement in power transmission system. He condemned the supply of natural gas to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on RLNG rates, wherein the gas is producing in surplus quantity. He demanded uninterrupted power and gas supply to industries, trading hubs and bazaars and markets.    The SCCI president slammed the FBR and its subordinate institutions along with bodies/organisations relating to trade, industries and commerce for harassment, black mailing and unfriendly attitude with the business community. He observed that flight of capitals has been increased after misbehaviour of the institutions with the community.   Hasnain Khurshid during the press conference complained Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has no spare time for meeting with the business community as the chamber has written several letters for this purpose during the last three years, but no response was yet to be given in this regard. He asked: “When the Chief Minister was not serious toward the resolution of the business community, how could the economy have flourished? He made it clear that if the government would not shun anti-business policies and not take back decisions of hike in electricity, gas and petrol prices, the business community will have no other option, but to launch a protest campaign. Sajjad Aziz, Secretary General, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi addressing during a meeting chaired by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmed at the chamber house. SCCI senior vice President Imran Khan, vice President Javed Akhtar, former FPCCI President Ghazanfar Bilour, former Presidents Zahidullah Shinwari, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, former SCCI’s SVP Engineer Manzoor Elahi, Shahid Hussain, former VP Abdul Jalil Jan, Malik Niaz Awan, Junaid Altaf, members of the chamber’s executive committee Haji Ghulam Hussain, Syed Minhajuddin, Ejaz Khan Afridi, Naeem Qasmi, Waqar Ahmad, Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Fazal Muqeem, Ghulam Bilal Javed, Aftab Iqbal, Ihsanullah, Mujeeb ur Rehman, Shams ur Rahim, Sohail Javed, Faiz Rasool, Mazarul Haq and Saddar Gul and others were present on the occasion.

Ghazanfar Bilour, leader Businessman Forum, Hasnain Khurshid Ahmed newly elected president and Sherbaz Bilour, the outgoing president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressing the business community from the podium during the Annual General Body meeting of the SCCI. Former presidents, the newly elected and outgoing office bearers of the chamber sit on the stage during the meeting. 

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Programme, funded by UK-Aid have joined hands to launch the second phase of ‘KP Business Voice Survey’. In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour and SEED Team Leader Hasaan Khawar during a ceremony held here at the chamber house on Thursday. The agreement reaffirms the long standing partnership between the two agencies and sought to leverage each agency’s comparative advantage to support high-quality and sustainable development outcomes through effective and accountable efforts. The launching event was attended by professionals belonging to the business community, academia and development sector. According to the details, the KP Business Voice Survey is aimed at sorting out problems and issues of the business community and give a viable roadmap for their amicable resolution. The participants expressed hope that the survey designated and dedicated for the KP province will benefit both the federal and provincial governments as well as other stakeholders in gauging the investment and building of sustainable business climate within this region. Though KP Business Voice, SEED, in partnership with SCCI, is steering to bring out the economic trends in the province and facilitates a better appreciation of the mobilization of resources and their allocation in the provincial budgets, the speakers said. The participants expressed optimism that the survey would shed light on the crucial gap between the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the business community to resolve issues on a fast track basis. Sherbaz Bilour while speaking on the occasion termed that KP Business Voice Survey a major step toward creating a sustainable business environment by addressing the key issues of businessmen through taking up them with relevant provincial authorities. On the occasion, the SEED Team leader Hassan Khawar highlighted the significance of KP Business Voice Survey in early mitigating sufferings and problems of the business community. The SEED official added that this is vitally important in providing evidence to help governments to understand how inflation, cost of energy, infrastructural challenges are affecting the current business environment.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Senator Shibli Faraz addressing during a meeting chaired by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour here at the chamber house. Leader Businessman Forum, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, former president FPCCI Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents, executive members and others were present on the occasion

President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour addresses members during the visit of Speaker KP Assembly, Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani here at the chamber house.  SCCI Senior Vice president Engineer Manzoor Elahi, Vice president Junaid Altaf, former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former president Riaz Arshad, Zahidullah Shinwari, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, former SVP Shahid Hussain, ex-vice presidents Abdul Jalil Jan, Shuja Muhammad, Javed Akhtar, Abidullah Yousafzai,  IAP president Malik Imran Ishaq, members of the SCCI executive committee Kamran Zeb, Fazal Muqeem, Waqar Ahmad, Zahoor Khan, Mujeebur Rehman, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Shams Rahim, Ihsanullah, Minhajuddin, Fazal Wahid, Saddar Gul, Faiz Rasool, Naeem Qasmi, industrialists, traders, importers and exporters were present on the occasion.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while chairing a meeting during a visit of Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Acting Chief Secretary, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here at the chamber house.

Businessmen, representatives/officials from federal and provincial governments have praised the idea of setting up Investment Facilitation Centre/web portal and gave proposals to further modify the action plan for execution of the IFC – Investment Facilitation Centre project, terming the initiative was a first step toward digital transformation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa investment. They, expressed, these views during a one-day consultative workshop of public sector stakeholders tiled: “Initiative for Digital Transformation in KP Investment Facilitation (IFC), Web portal, a joint venture of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) under UNDP FERP project funded by USAID, held here at the chamber house on Wednesday. SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour presided over the session while Smeda provincial chief Rashid Aman acted as moderator on the occasion. Besides, the chamber senior vice president Engr Manzoor Elahi, WSSP CEO Dr Hassan Nasir, Additional Secretary Local government, senior officials from more than 32 federal and provincial relevant departments participated in the session. The participants praised the initiative of establishing the Investment Facilitation Centre/Web portal and gave a number of ideas and proposals to further modify the action plan for the IFC. Sherbaz Bilour while speaking on the occasion said that the IFC/Web portal is a first step towards promotion of sustainable business environment, investment and resolve of the business community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The SCCI on the occasion, fully assured that the project would be implemented with joint cooperation of federal and provincial governments’ relevant departments and stakeholders. He added the project is an effort under the PM Vision’s for Ease of Doing Business in the country, through which, investment would not only be attracted, besides business community issues can be resolved by taking up with relevant departments in an effective manner. Sherbaz Bilour stressed that the promotion of public-private partnership is essential for sustainable economic growth, businesses and investment in the province. He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan has jumped from 136 to 108 in Ease of Doing Business index mostly based on EoDB evaluation of Karachi and Lahore. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has little or no indication despite having immense potential, resources and the locational advantage of proximity to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs), he noted. The chamber president informed that SCCI signed a MoU with Uzbekistan and Surkhandarya chambers of commerce and industry, during the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan. SCCI will sign MoUs with all the CARs and will convert transit and bilateral trade of all CARs to Pakistani ports of Gwadar, Karachi and Port Qasim from Bandar Abbas of Iran, he informed. He expressed hope that the SCCI initiative will provide Pakistani traders access to the new central Asian market. Earlier, the SCCI VP Engr Manzoor Elahi appreciated the active participation of the government officials in the consultative session and constructive proposals from them. He hoped that the project will soon be executed in joint collaboration of government relevant departments and stakeholders.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry speaking to members of the chamber executive committee during a meeting of the committee here at the chamber house. The chamber senior vice president Engineer Manzoor Elahi, vice president Junaid Altaf, former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents Faiz Muhamamd Faizi, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Riaz Arshad, executive members Abdul Jalil Jan, Muhammad Naeem Butt, Muhammad Kamran Zeb, Mujeebur Rehman, Ghulam Bilal Javed, Waqar Ahmad, Muhammad Tariq, Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abidullah Yousafzai, Saddar Gul and Faiz Rasool were also present during the meeting.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry speaking to the members during a visit of Capt (Retired) Khalid Mehmood, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar here at the chamber house. On the occasion, the chamber senior vice president Engineer Manzoor Elahi, former presidents Haji Muhmmad Afzal, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Faud Ishaq, former vice president Abdul Jalil Jan, Abidullah Yousafzai, members of the SCCI executive committee, Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ghulam Bilal Javed, Ihsanullah, Shams ul Rahim, Saddar Gul, Nadeem Rauf, Fazal Wahid, Syed Ijaz Ali Shah, Syed Minhajuddin, Rashid Iqbal Siddique, a large number of traders including presidents of different bazaars associations, importers, exporters and industrialists were present during the meeting.  

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressing during a visit of Mr Mukaram Jah Ansari, Executive Director General/ Additional Secretary of Board of Investment Islamabad here at the chamber house.  

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry speaking at a joint meeting of Pak-Afghan traders in presence of Mr Fawad Arash, Afghan Commercial Attaché’ in Peshawar, which was held at chamber house.    

Sherbaz Bilour, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry presiding over a meeting of the SCCI Executive committee here at the chamber house. Ex-presidents and members of executive committee were present on the occasion.

سرحد چیمبر Ú©Û’ سابق صدور حاجی نور محمد اور صوفی بشیر احمد درانی Ú©ÛŒ یاد میں چیمبر ہاؤس میں منعقد ہونیوالی تعزیتی ریفرنس Ú©ÛŒ تصاویری جھلکیاں    

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with senior vice president of SCCI, Engineer Manzoor Elahi in a meeting with Dr. Kazim Niaz, Chief Secretary Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with Engr Manzoor Elahi, senior vice president and Junaid Altaf vice president, Faiz Muhammad Faizi former president of the SCCI in a meeting with Mr Khayitboy A Omonov, Uzbekistan Deputy Chairman Railways, Coal and Mineral.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with Engr Manzoor Elahi, senior vice president and Junaid Altaf vice president, Faiz Muhammad Faizi former president of the SCCI in a meeting with Atadjan Molamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairing a meeting of Youth Entrepreneurs Standing Committee at the chamber house. Sanan Sethi, the committee chairman, SCCI former senior vice president, Engr Saad Khan Zahid and former vice president Haris Mufti, vice chairman of the youth entrepreneurs committee, Asad Ishfaq, Salman Altaf Ahmad Khan, Khurram Rahim, Syed Yasir Hayat, Abdulllah Sethi, and Saba Durrani along with young entrepreneurs were present on the occasion.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlights business community issues during the visit of Mr. Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Minister for Labour and Culture KP at SCCI house. Former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, SCCI Senior vice president Engr. Manzoor Elahi , Vice President Junaid Altaf, ex-presidents, members of executive committee and representatives of traders community were present on the occasion.

Sherbaz Ilyas Ghazanfar Bilour, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlights business community issues relating to property tax during the visit of Mr Syed Ghazi Ghazan Jamal at SCCI house. Former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, SCCI vice president Junaid Altaf, ex-presidents, members of executive committee and representatives of traders community were present on the occasion.

Sherbaz Ilyas Bilour, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a meeting with Ambassador of Belgium to Pakistan, Mr Philippe Bronchain here at the chamber house. Former FPCCI president, Ghazanfar Bilour, the chamber SVP Engr Manzoor Elahi and VP Junaid Altaf, ex-presidents Haji Muhammad Afzal, Faiz Muhammad and Zulfiqar Ali Khan and other members were also present in the meeting.

Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, leader Businessman Forum, Sherbaz Bilour, the newly elected president and Engineer Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz, the outgoing president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressing the business community from the podium during the Annual General Body meeting of the SCCI. Ghazanfar Bilour, former FPCCI president, the newly elected and outgoing office bearers of the chamber sit on the stage during the meeting.