By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, April 28 (INP-WealthPK): Chambers of Commerce and Industry all over Pakistan are acting as a potential platform for multiple trade and business-related activities. Talking to WealthPK about the role of chambers to promote business and trade, Public Relations Officer and Spokesperson for Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Zulfiqar Ahmad said the chamber is non-commercial/non-profit organization established to promote the trade and business activities. “The most important function of the chamber is to act as a coordinating body between active public/private trade and business concerns,” he said. For the development of trade and business, the RCCI is playing a crucial role. “It not only supports the huge trade and business enterprises, but small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well like a retaining wall. The RCCI regularly conducts the trade and business promotion workshops on technical and ethical aspects. It helps produce more skilled business persons and new entrepreneurs,” said the spokesperson. “Arbitration is also another positive role sometimes played by the chamber for promoting harmonized trade. Organization of multi-sectoral business expos, exchange of business delegations, and trade tours are some of the activities performed by the RCCI,” he said. Speaking to WealthPK about the role of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Spokesperson Muhammad Ramazan said the ICCI is the largest representative body of Islamabad’s trade and business community which consists of about 5000 members. “The ICCI helps them solve the operational matters with the concerning government bodies i.e., State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Capital Development Authority (CDA), financial matters related to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), issues related to ministries regarding multi-sectoral business policies, import export concerning issues related to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Excise and Taxation Department, interest rate etc,” said the spokesperson. For the promotion of trade and business, the ICCI has solved many issues by acting as a bridge between public private bodies. “The ICCI tries to address all matters concerning the relevant department for the promotion of business and trade. Frequent exchange of trade and business delegations at the platform of ICCI proves positive to get and share the business around the globe. The ICCI always takes interest to weave the business activities for the promotion of trade and business and for the economic betterment of Pakistan,” he said. Additional Secretary and Head of Department (HoD) for Information and Media of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mazhar Elahi told WealthPK that the LCCI is the first ever chamber of commerce and industry in Pakistan established in 1923. “On the occasion of centenary celebrations, around the whole year, the LCCI has planned multiple trade, business and social activities. As a part of these celebrations, the LCCI has conducted a business expo in the month of March. 200 stalls were arranged related to the manifolds of business and trade sector,” he said. The LCCI has also started the tradition of awarding export trophy to successful exporters all over Pakistan. To award this trophy at least 15 categorical scenarios are considered to choose from the export sector. FM 98.6 is also a leaf of LCCI’s success stories. It is a non-commercial channel and relays its broadcast between 9:00am to 6:00pm. Mazhar said regular visits of LCCI delegations to different countries have proved a success to gain export orders. “Our enthusiastic trade and business partners always respond to the business activities positively and generate success stories,” he said. Spokesperson for Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Tajamul Hussain told WealthPK that the SCCI has always been a step ahead to show its performance concerning the promotion of trade and business activities. “Air Sial and Sialkot Airport are the glorious examples of public private partnership business owned by the SCCI. Establishment of tannery zone covering an area of about 500sq km is another success story of the SCCI. Very soon this zone will be operational to benefit Pakistan’s economy,” he said. “Our regular foreign business tours always proved successful because our traders and business fellows get huge export orders from there to swell the state wallets of Pakistan as well,” he said. Sardar Sajid Aleem, Media Advisor of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), said the FCCI is one of the superbly active chambers of commerce serving the trade and business community by addressing most of the issues related to public private partnership aspects. “Individually, trade and business community related to the FCCI is showing performance by multi-promotional commercial activities. Combined business plans are needed to create employment opportunities and ensure Pakistan’s greater economic prosperity,” Sajid said. Recently, the FCCI conducted a mega event to highlight the economic issues and solutions in the country. “A great number of participants appreciated such type of business and trade promotional activities of the FCCI. Scholarships to promote new SMEs getting education under multiple disciplines and the arrangement of internships in competent organizations is also a part of the FCCI’s business promotion activities,” he added.