|
Lasbela District in the province of Balochistan, serves as
principal Gateway to the upcoming Free Port of Gwadar and
Balochistan itself. Its importance is also due to its proximity of
Karachi, the hub of economic activities of the country. With the
construction of the Northern Bypass and Coastal Highway, it has
emerged as the industrially and commercially active region of
Balochistan having great potential for industrial and commercial
investment. So far there are about 150 industrial units having an
estimated investment of about Rs. 150.00 billion, are in operation
in this region producing Electric Power, Cement, Textile Yarn and
Fabrics, Glucose, Sugar Confectionary, Food Products, Pharmaceutical
Products, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Ceramics, Engineering Goods,
Marble and Granite Products, etc. There are five Industrial
Estates including a Marble City and a large Ship Breaking Yard. The
Lasbela Industrial Estates Development Authority (LIEDA) having its
head office at Hub, Lasbela, manages the industrial estates in this
region. In view of the above, the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and
Industry enjoys a singular distinction of being the most active,
popular and important Chamber of the province of Balochistan
representing the business community of the district. It was formed
in 1995 after being licensed by the Ministry of Commerce, Government
of Pakistan, and being registered with the Securities Exchange
Commission of Pakistan with the merger of Hub Association of Trade
and Industry. The Chamber is affiliated with the
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry.
To see the Lasbela District most prosperous and economically
sound enabling the region to cater to the requirements of upcoming
Gwadar and Sonmiani ports in Balochistan.
back to top
- To try to create conducive environment to attract industrial
investment in Lasbela District in view of almost saturation in
Karachi and its surroundings, by way of pursuing LIEDA, NHA,
PASDEC, Pakistan Railway and District Governments to develop
necessary infra-structure in the region
- To tap the mineral resources of Balochistan and to take
maximum advantage of these resources by creating awareness
regarding the modern mining and processing technology and by
employing modern marketing techniques
- To suggest to and pursue the Government to establish Sea
Food City at Dham, Lasbela creating opportunities for investment
in this sector to tape the sea food resources of the coastal
line of Balochistan
- To suggest the building of small dams and reservoirs to
store flood water to raise the level of underground water
resources in order to facilitate the agricultural growth in the
region, which is already producing fruit vegetable, wheat,
cotton etc. This will also facilitate the growth in the poultry
and livestock sector
- To facilitate the members in solving their day to day
problems regarding the interpretation of laws and procedures,
provision of infra-structure facilities, by playing a role of
bridge between Government and the private sector
- To endeavor to bring the more and more business enterprises
into the membership folds of the Chamber on the basis of
Chamber's performance.
In order to accomplish the above objectives the Chamber has been
actively engaged and will perform the following activities:-
back to top
The Chamber has three classes of membership, namely Corporate
Members, Associate Members and Town Associations. Almost all the
Industrial and Commercial establishments operating in Lasbela
District are members of this Chamber. Its membership strength is
gradually increasing with the growth of economic activities in the
region.
back to top
Under the provisions of the newly framed Trade Organizations
Rules - 2007, the Chamber's policies and programs are determined by
a 12-member Executive Committee, which is constituted every year.
Out of total members of Executive Committee, one half retires every
year and in their place new members are inducted through elections.
The Managing Committee every year elects the President and Vice
President of the Chamber. President controls the working of the
Chamber with the assistance of Vice President.
The Chamber's workings are carried out through the
consultations with the Sub-Committee formed every year by the
Executive Committee, to deal with various subjects and issues like
trade and industry problems, customs and sales tax problems, labour
problems, etc. Liaison with the District and City Administration:
The Chamber believes that without a developed and sophisticated
social and physical infrastructure, the country cannot achieve a
break-through in the socio-economic development. It is in keeping
with this perspective that the Chamber has close liaison with LIEDA
and the
District and City Governments of Lasbela District, with a purpose to
create a feasible and workable environment in the region by
developing the infrastructure to not only
invite the investors to avail the vast opportunities of Industrial
and Commercial investment in Lasbela District, but also to improve
the living standards of the people of this region. The Chamber has
constituted Lasbela Development Committee to undertake the
development of welfare projects to improve the living standards of
the people.
back to top
Being the only representative
trade body of Lasbela District, it has been given due representation
on various important Governing and Advisory Bodies of the Government
where Chamber nominates its members having long experience and deep
insight in the specific fields. Some of the important bodies on
which the Chamber has been given representation are as under:
-Advisory Committee of Ministry of Commerce
-Advisory Committee of Ministry of Finance
-Board of Directors of Lasbela Industrial Estates Development
Authority
-Works Committee of Lasbela Industrial Estates Development Authority
-Dispute Resolution Committee of Central Board of Revenue
-Advisory Committees of Employees Old Age Benefit (EOBI),
Baclochistan Employees Social Security Institutions (BESSI), Workers
Welfare Board Balochistan (WWB), Worker Welfare Fund (WWF) etc.
With the Chamber's
association with various Advisory/Governing bodies, it keeps it
posted with feedback on various Government Policies and Measures,
the Chamber also utilizes these forums to influence the policies and
perception of the Government through personal discussion as well as
through submission of representations on various issues. The Local
and Provincial Authorities concerned are also timely approached
through personal meetings and discussions. It is against such
exercise and experience that problems both of individual or
collective nature, pertaining to the industrial and commercial
establishments are dealt with and pursued till such problems
are resolved. In fact, the Chamber acts as a catalyst and works as
a bridge between the Government and the Private Sector
entrepreneurs.
back to top
Services rendered by the Chamber:
The chamber's basic function is to protect and promote the
interest of trade, commerce and industry in Lasbela District. It
strives hard to espouse the cause of private sector enterprises and
to redouble its contribution in the socio-economic development in
the country. It also works on the capacity building of the members
and their staff by way of organizing the seminars and workshops on
the issues pertaining to taxation, environment, labour laws,
management and marketing, processing etc. The Chamber is authorized:
- To issue Certificate of Origin for export cargoes and
attestation of commercial documents.
- To issue recommendation letters for Visa and the foreign
missions in very kind to accept the recommendations.
- To organize the Pakistan Pavilion in the International Fairs
and Exhibitions.
- To invite Ministers and high-profile Government
Functionaries to the Chamber to identify the problems being
faced by the trade and industry, and to help resolve them.
- To publish Trade Directories, Reference Data and other
publications for the benefit of the business community.
- To organize Seminars, Conferences, Local / International Exhibitions,
Display Centres, etc. for the promotion of trade and industry.
The General Body of the Chamber meets once every year
compulsorily and adopts the Annual Report of the outgoing
Executive Committee, as well as the Audited Accounts and also
confirms the election of the new members of the Executive
Committee and the Office Bearers. The Extra-Ordinary General
Meetings can be convened as and when required by the Chamber.
|
