Small traders, big businessmen lock horns

Extensive media coverage received by ‘unregistered traders’ disturbs KCCI leaders.

KARACHI:

Differences between small traders and big industrialists of Karachi have widened as both accuse each other of not truly representing the business community at government platforms.

The gulf widened when a row erupted between small businesses and leadership of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) few months ago over KCCI’s refusal to support and take part in a strike, called by small traders to protest inaction of the government against extortionists.

KCCI’s top leaders were reluctant to take a hard line and wanted to give some more time to the government to control the deteriorating security conditions in the city.

Later, the small traders parted ways with the KCCI and announced that they would open their own chamber. In the last few months, the vocal traders have received extensive media coverage which seems to have disturbed the KCCI leadership.

In an apparent bid to restrain small businessmen, the KCCI has released a press note, asking the media not to give undue coverage to unregistered and little-known business associations of Karachi.

“Bogus, self-made alliances, forums and action committees usually release wishful statements about closure of businesses, markets and industries and mislead general public. Media should refrain from giving coverage to them,” the KCCI said in an apparent reference to small traders, but without naming anyone.

Talking to The Express Tribune, KCCI President Saeed Shafiq said the unregistered associations, which did not have licence from the government, were misrepresenting the business community on important platforms. “Such unregistered associations create problems for registered trade bodies of Karachi by giving protest and strike calls,” he said.

The KCCI leaders say small traders set unrealistic targets for the government to control law and order problems. Some problems in Karachi are decades-old and they cannot be resolved in few months, they say.

However, small traders argue that the KCCI and other industrial associations do not represent the true voice of small businessmen and traders which force them to demand their own chamber.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir said this alliance was registered with the government and it truly represented small traders and businessmen. “KCCI leadership’s stance indicates that they do not consider small traders their members, though I have represented a small traders’ committee of the KCCI for eight years,” he said.

“I am also the chairman of small traders committee in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). Does this mean that the FPCCI has done something illegal to give me a chance to represent small traders,” he asked.

Putting his weight behind Mir, FPCCI Vice President Khalid Tawab said Mir was part of the apex trade body and he was a well-connected leader of small traders and businessmen.

Since the KCCI did not name any organisation in its release and issued a general statement, it was still unclear who the chamber was referring to, he said.

However, the small traders are convinced that the KCCI wants to target them because of their strong stance against the chamber and government’s indifference.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2011.