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Welcome to Sarhar Chamber videos Section |
Heading: Governor supports SCCI’s concern on ROZs, demands declaring NWFP-FATA as `War affected Zones’ |
Description: PESHAWAR, September 28 (APP): NWFP Governor, Awais Ahmad Ghani, while supporting the concerns of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) over proposed plan of United States to set up Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in NWFP and FATA, has said that if the recommendations of the business community were not given proper heed, the project may fail to deliver. He expressed these views while talking to business community of NWFP at a book launching ceremony held at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday. Governor apprised businessmen that he has conveyed there concern to US Ambassador and other concerned departments. Apart from this, the Governor added, he told the concerned quarters that the ROZs plan in present shape is not favourable for NWFP and would not be accepted. He also supported the demand of SCCI office bearers that NWFP and FATA be declared as `War affected Zones’ at the earliest. |
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Heading: SHAUKAT TARIN ASSURES SCCI DELEGATION SPECIAL FISCAL AND MORATORIUM PACKAGE |
Description: A delegation of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) led by its President Mr. Sharafat Ali met Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Shaukat Tarin here today. The delegation discussed with the Adviser multiple problems confronting the trade and industry of NWFP Province in the wake of global war on terrorism in Tribal Areas. The delegates suggested that the Federal Government, in view of geo-strategic importance of NWFP, should utilize foreign non-military assistance to bail out NWFP industry, focusing speedy industrialization to maximize province-related development process. The SCCI delegation briefed the Adviser on recent cases of exodus from various parts of the province to the Provincial Capital exerting immense pressure on the infrastructure of Peshawar city. It was highlighted that the business community of the province is facing liquidity problems and the banks were reluctant to provide credit line for the working capital. Moreover, in order to boost exports to Afghanistan and minimize refund claims, the tariff structure on finished products may be modified and exports from EPZ areas be encouraged through providing security and related-infrastructure support. Pharmaceutical Industry is an upcoming industry in the NWFP Province and warrants special fiscal encouragement package to upgrade production for domestic needs and export to regional states, SCCI proposed. Adviser to PM assured SCCI that GOP shall take into consideration NWFP Province Pharma Industry problems concerning duties-related reforms/modification in a way that it contributes to widen country’s export base that finally would scale up country’s economy. Federal Government would speed up its efforts to get international market access via NWFP and Balochistan, enabling country’s industrial areas to develop into a wider industrial base to the benefit of investors and entrepreneurs, Mr. Tarin stressed. Government would shortly introduce a special industrial package for war-ravaged areas of NWFP Province that may include moratorium where needed, Adviser to PM added. Both the sides agreed that all stakeholders shall put in their best efforts to transform existing economic adversity into future prosperity. GOP currently is working on establishing a National Business Council comprising 40 plus enterprising entrepreneurs to contribute to the nationwide economic regeneration, Mr. Shaukat Tarin concluded.
Category: BUSINESS
Date:2009-01-29 18:43:07 |
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Heading: Booth inaugurated at SCCI for facilitation of businessmen in e-filing, tax return submission |
Description: PESHAWAR, September 16 (APP): President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Sharafat Ali Mubarik and Director General Regional Tax Office (RTO), Saeedullah Khan Wednesday inaugurated booth at Sarhad Chamber for facilitation of businessmen in submission of tax returns, e-filing. The booth will be manned by officials of RTO who will assist and guide traders and businessmen in submission of tax returns and other maters relating to taxation, said a press release issued here by Sarhad Chamber. On this occasion, Vice President of SCCI, Muhammad Ishaq, newly elected president of SCCI, Riaz Arshad, President of Industrialist Association Peshawar, Malik Niaz, former president of SCCI, Haji Muhammad Asif and leading businessmen of the province were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, President of SCCI, Sharafat Ali Mubarik supported the policy of expanding the tax net and demanded of the government to exempt small traders from e-filing and sales tax registration. He said the issue of sales tax registration of traders of this insurgency hit province should be delayed for the time being, he added. Sharafat Ali Mubarik also demanded delay in last date for submission of income tax returns due to Ramzan. He said the departments working in sub-ordination of FBR should not take such measures which could create uncertainty among the business community. DG RTO, Saeedullah Khan, in his speech, assured the business community that no compulsory registration in sales tax will be made but every consumer would submit his tax in accordance with details provided through self assessment scheme. He said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is making measures for expanding the tax net and sought cooperation from Sarhad Chamber in this regard. APP / Adeel / Rizwan Niazi
Category: GENERAL
Date:2009-09-16 18:12:30 |
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Heading: SCCI delegation calls on Shaukat Tarin |
Description: ISLAMABAD, July 2 (APP): An eight-member delegation of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) led by its President Sharafat Ali Mubarak held a meeting with the Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin here Thursday. During the meeting the office-bearers of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed the problems being faced by the business community of NWFP with Shaukat Tarin. The delegation said that due to the military action against terrorists is various parts of NWFP, the business, including industry and imports and exports were badly affected. Simlialrly, the IDPs issue has also aggravated the economic problems of the province, the delegation added. The SCCI delegation requested the government to declare the province as war-affected area and gant tax relaxation to the business community of the province. Shaukat Tarin assured the delegation that necessary steps were being taken in this regard, as the government is fully aware that due to military action and IDPs issue the business and economic activity in the province is being affected and need government support. In order to facilitate the process of taxation in NWFP, the Advisor directed the FBR to establish ‘Facilitation Cells’ in different parts of the province for speedy solution to tax related issues faced by the business community of NWFP. He said that the government would make Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry a partner in policy making process and try to build up the confidence of the business community. He said that there would be no harassment of business community in future and declared that "we would establish a jirga system of mutual consultation in the field of commerce and industry". The advisor mentioned that the current budget was prepared in consultation with the business community of the country and this process will continue in future as well. Sharafat Ali Mubarak, President SCCI, Senator Ilyas Bilour, Naseem-ur-Rehman, President Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Ishaq, Vice President, SCCI and Members EC SCCI, Omar Zakor, Arshad Siddiqui, Riaz Arshad and Mir Suhail Hashmi were included in the delegation.
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-07-02 17:16:37 |
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Heading: Syed Zia Mehboob visits Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Peshawar. |
Description: Director General Federal Tax Ombudsman Syed Zia Mehboob visited Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Peshawar on Monday and called on a meeting with President of SCCI Sharafat Ali Mubarak to discuss tax related matters and other problems faced by tradesmen at NWFP. Haji Mohammad Asif, Waris Afridi, Faiz ullah Faizi and other officials of chambers also participated in this meeting. Syed Zia Mehboob announced that federal government would establish a regional office of Tax Ombudsman at Peshawar, which will deal problems and issues in this regard and establishment of this regional office will exempt the tradesmen of NWFP to visit Islamabad for the solution of their problems.
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-02-02 22:49:35 |
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Heading: SCCI reiterates demand of declaring NWFP as `War Affected Province’ |
Description: PESHAWAR, October 14 (APP): Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has reiterated its demand of declaring NWFP as `War Affected Province’ and stressed upon the federal government to take urgent measures in this regard. Addressing his maiden press conference here on Wednesday, the newly elected President of SCCI, Riaz Arshad and his cabinet members said that delay in announcing an economic package for NWFP for healing the wounds it received from war on terror is unjustified. Riaz Arshad said military operation in Malakand division, suicide bombing in Peshawar and other major cities and electricity load shedding has brought commercial activity to a halt and province is facing serious economic crisis. He deplored that despite assurance by federal government about declaring NWFP as War Affected Province, the announcement is delayed due to unknown reasons. SCCI. President said that government should provide relief to the business community of NWFP besides giving them protection because the province is facing the backlash of country’s war against terror. He also demanded that the announcement of declaring NWFP as war affected province should be couple with doing away of the mark up in the entire province accept from nominal services charges at the rate of 1 or 2 percent. Similarly, the mark up since January 2007 by the business and industrial members should be adjusted to principal amount which should be so reduced. The industrial, trade loans and advances outstanding in Malakand Division, Swat, Buner and Dir should be waived off in view of the damages caused to the business community by anti-militant operation in the area, he added. Riaz Arshad continued the State Bank of Pakistan circular No. 29 dated 15th October 2002 should be re-enforced in whole of the province so that the businesses and industries affected by the militancy may avail benefit and get their outstanding liabilities adjusted. The SCCI also demanded that the SRO No. 529(1)88 dated 26th June 1988 granting five years exemption in Sales Tax and eight years in Income Tax for the whole of the province may be re-enforced. Electricity and gas bills should be exempted from Sales Tax, Income Tax and Federal Excise duty for at least five years. The rate of utility charges should be curtailed for a period of as least five years and the Industrial and Commercial concerns should be exempted from load shedding so that these could be run without any obstruction. Giving a review of the economic recession in NWFP, SCCI president said out of 2200 industrial units in the province, only 590 are operational which are running on eight hours daily due to load shedding. Similarly, he added, the strength of labor force in NWFP has reduced to 48,000 from the figure of 87,000. About 39,000 laborers have lost jobs due to slump in business in the province. SCCI president said its right time for federal government to come forward and extend support to the sagging economy of NWFP otherwise the province may reach to the stage of facing economic disaster. APP/ Saima Hayat.
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-10-14 20:47:54 |
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Heading: Federal Minister for Industries Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo visits Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industries |
Description: Federal Minister for Industries Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo visited and presided over a meeting today here at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industries. In this meeting Leader Businessmen Forum of Pakistan, Senator Ilyas Bilour, President Chamber Sharfat Ali Mubarik, Provincial minister for Industries Ahmed Hussein Shah and other chamber members were also present. Provincial minister for Industries Ahmed Hussein Shah said that due to law and order situation of province it’s the duty of government and public sectors to provide employment opportunities to masses of NWFP. He said that Industry is the backbone of the economy of any country and that’s the reason that we are here united to talk about our problems. Minister and other members of Chamber at this point of time presented their problems in front of federal Minister and asked for their solution. Federal Minister for Industries Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo while responding these tradesmen said that purpose of ministry of Industries is to coordinate with Industrial Sector and also to give solution of problems they are facing. He said that problems of Industrial sector must be resolved as they are the backbone of Pakistan. He said that he has already met with the people of Cement, Industries, Lather, textile, ghee mills and others in order to cope up the problems while in the end of this month he will visit Sialkot, Lahore and FaisalAbad Chambers of Commerce in this regard. He announced that soon he will call upon all over country meeting, where I will invite all chambers of Commerce & Industries to discuss their problems at one platform. Federal Minister marked the problems we are facing this time, i.e., Energy Crisis, Law & Order situation and Banks Interests. By overcoming these problems we can activate the industrial sector, he added. Federal Minister further said that government has released funds in order to cope up energy crisis and that’s the reason that increased the production of electricity to 8000 mega watts from 6000 mega watts. He said that he will talk to Power Minister in order to exempt NWFP from loadsheding in April 2009. He assured that he will talk also to Prime Minister and President in order to declare NWFP as War Affected Zone.
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-01-10 18:08:49 |
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Heading: Delegation of SCCI calls on President Pakistan |
Description: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that in the war against terror and militancy defeat was not an option and we have to triumph to protect and defend our way of life. "Let me also tell you that we are fated to succeed in this war no matter what the odds and what our critics may say". The President said this while addressing members of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in the Presidency today to highlight the problems of development and industry in the province. Federal Ministers Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Watoo, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Arbab Alamgir Khan, Waqar Ahmad Khan, Najmuddin Khan, Noor ul Haq Qadri, Rehman Malik and Shaukat Tarin also attended the meeting. The President said that the militants wanted to take over the state and impose their political agenda on our people but they will never be allowed to succeed. He said that fighting militancy was the collective responsibility of all of us and instead of dwelling too long on the past, we should look forward and take the bull by the horn, he said. The businessmen and industrialists of Frontier who spoke on the occasion highlighted the problems faced by them due to the militants on slaught and demanded special incentives to rejuvenate the industrial sector of the province. The President asked Mr. Shaukat Tarin, Finance Advisor to take a special meeting with the representatives of the Chamber and relevant federal ministers and report on measures that can be adopted to revive the Frontier Industry. Advisor Interior Mr. Rehman Malik also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the measures taken thus far to restore normalcy in the disturbed areas. He said that Frontier Constabulary had been placed under the Chief Minister for deployment wherever needed to augment the police force. He said that special training programmes had also been launched to train the law enforcement agencies in fighting militants. He said that soft loan had been offered by China and necessary equipment had been selected to equip the law enforcement agencies with latest arms.
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-01-15 19:22:06 |
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Heading: SCCI Export Trophy award ceremony at Frontier House, Peshawar. |
Description: PESHAWAR, July 27 (APP): The Sixth Export Trophy and Businessman of the Year Gold Medal awards ceremony of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) held today at Chief Minister House Peshawar. NWFP Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti was the chief guest on the occasion, while leader of Businessmen Forum, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, President SCCI Sharafat Ali Mubarak and Senior Provincial Minister Raheem Dad Khan, Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Bilour, Provincial Ministers for Sports & Culture Aqil Shah and Provincial Minister Information Mian Iftikhar Hussein were also present at the ceremony. During the ceremony, CM NWFP awarded gold medals to 8 top trade associations, 2other institutions got silver medals, while 42 business associations, National Air Lines, commercial banks, and distributors got the Export Trophy Awards at this occasion. CM NWFP awarded Lucky Cement Ltd with 4 gold medals, Al Amdad Trading Company with 2 gold medals while Ays Electronics & Pharma net pharmaceuticals were awarded with a single gold medal. Bank of Khyber won 3awards being best bank of province, Bank Al- Falah won 2awards. PIA won award for best cargo export service and other 42 best trade associations won awards for best services in commerce sector. Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Bilour, Rahim dad Khan, Provincial Minister for commerce Syed Ahmed Hussein shah and Secretary Industries NWFP Shah Wali Khan were awarded also for serving businessmen community best. Saima Hayat / APP
Category: NATIONAL
Date:2009-07-27 20:04:54 |
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Heading: SCCI proposes utilization of US aid in NWFP for reviving trade & industry |
Description: Budget-Proposals PESHAWAR, May 28 (APP): Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has suggested for utilization of dollar three billion non-military aid of United States in NWFP for reviving the trade and industry and to upgrade the dilapidated infrastructure of the province which is passing through a very critical juncture due to on going war on terror and highly alarming law and order situation. The suggestion was made in `Budget Proposals' as recommended by the SCCI for the upcoming federal budget for the fiscal year 2009-10. "This US fund should be utilized to bailout the NWFP industry and to pace up industrialization in the province," said, President of SCCI, Sharafat Ali Mubarik while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.
Date:2009-05-28 20:30:48 |
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