20 chambers to help bring about reforms

KARACHI: Twenty chambers of commerce and industry of Pakistan have agreed to work together on a joint agenda for democratic and economic policy reforms which are vital for the business community.

This was disclosed in a newsletter of the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). The agreement, called the ‘Bhurban Declaration’ signed early this year, also declares that the chambers will work with the government to ensure that good governance mechanisms are in place and smuggling is halted on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

An agreement was also reached which said that from now on chambers’ leadership will work to ensure that policies and laws affecting businesses are prepared in consultation with the business community through closer communications with ministry officials.

Additionally, it says that chambers will provide unified input for the preparation of the federal budget. Chambers will also work together to become a single voice for the business community.

The news report further read: “CIPE’s many efforts to bring chambers to the table to discuss their differences and move forward together has resulted in achieving a significant milestone.”

Furthermore, in addition to the written declaration intended for the Pakistan government, the chamber presidents also agreed that any laws and policies affecting businesses should be prepared in consultation with the business community.

“To that end, they are planning to develop communication tools to pursue closer interaction with ministry officials,” the report read.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2010.