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When I assumed the office of the President of the
Chamber on 1st October, 2006, I was fully conscious of
the fact that my predecessor Dr. Muhammad Aslam, who was
with me as Senior Vice President, has build up the image
of the Lasbela Chamber with his sincerity, dedication
and devotion with a result that the name of the Chamber
has reached upto the President and Prime Minster Houses.
I have not only to maintain the same spirit but to
improve it further, so as to provide the services to the
members and to improve the working conditions for the
smooth running of economic activities in Lasbela
District and for the revival of sick industries and for
creating potential for industrial and commercial
investment. There was a consistent task of revival of
sick industries and to improve the infrastructure
facilities for existing industries.
In order to maintain the same spirit and to achieve the
above objective, we planned many things; particularly
our stress was to keep close liaison with all
stakeholders and also the capacity building of the
members. I was also fully aware about the need to raise
the living standard of the people of this region. In
fact, being the President of Lasbela Chamber, was an
honour for me but at the same time it was a challenge
and added responsibility to create the environment most
conducive not only to continue the industrial and
commercial activities in the region, but also for the
expansion and further investment as well, providing a
contribution towards the National Poverty Alleviation
Programme.Therefore, I focused my attention towards achieving the
above objectives and to promote the Chamber's message
and services which may attract new investment and also
the increasing role of Industrialists and Chamber in the
community services.
It was our delight that the image of the Chamber and the
region attained the highest level making the expanded
room in the government circles that supported in
resolving many issues on urgent basis.
The following Report of Activities of the Chamber during
the period of October 2006 to December 2007, will show
you that these have been aimed at rendering services to
the members and the business community and at maximizing
the economic activities in the region.
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It has been very critical and challenging for the Chamber
when the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
repealed the Trade Organizations Ordinance 1961 and
promulgated a new Ordinance and framed new Trade
Organizations Rules in June, 2007 and the Chamber were asked
to apply for revalidation of their license after fulfilling
the specified conditions.
Dr. Muhammad Aslam, SVP and Mr. Ismail Suttar, Member EC
have been very instrumental in guiding the Secretariat to
work on this Project. The Secretary Mr. Abdul Rasheed really
worked very hard and submitted the application in time,
which is now under consideration of the Ministry of
Commerce.
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I and my colleagues in the Chamber believed in close
liaison with Honourable President, Prime Minister of
Pakistan, Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan, Chief
Secretary of Balochistan and other high government officials
which provided opportunity to us to apprise them of the
problems and issues effectively. The result of which is that
we succeeded in resolving our many issues relating to
infrastructure development, improvement of law and order
situation, improvement of working conditions etc.
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The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mr. Jam Mohammad
Yousuf who himself belongs to the Lasbela District has
always been very kind towards the industrialists of the
region due to his sincerity towards the industrialization in
the Province. He also has been very kind towards the Lasbela
Chamber and gave opportunity to its delegation to meet him
at Hub. In this meeting many issues like law and order
situation, expansion of industrial area, proposed Sea Food
City at Gaddani or Dham etc. were discussed. He was very
kind to announce Cement City besides approving many steps to
improve the law and order situation. In particular he
appreciated the efforts of the Chamber being undertaken for
well being of the people of Hub and adjoining areas directly
as well as through Lasbela Development Committee.
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In order to initiate and implement various development
projects announced by the President of Pakistan during his
visit to Hub and to resolve other issues, the Chamber had as
many as two meetings with the Chief Secretary, Government of
Balochistan, Mr. K.B. Rind and discussed with him the issues
particularly relating to the uninterrupted supply of water
to domestic and industrial users at Hub from Hub Dam as well
as from K-3 Project, supply of gas to Winder and Uthal,
starting of the functioning of 50-Bed Hospital at HITE, Hub
etc. The Chief Secretary has been kind enough to take up the
matters with relevant departments for speedy implementation.
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In order to resolve various issues and problems being
faced by the members in respect of sales tax, environmental
law, law and order situation, meetings were arranged with
the Collector of Customs, Sales Tax and Federal Excise,
Quetta Mr. Abdus Sami Baber, Director General, Environmental
Protection Agency, Balochistan Mr.Jamshed Hasni and DIG
Police Khuzdar Range Mr. Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh with the
members who discussed their problems with them directly and
these Officers were kind enough to guide them and decided
the matters instantly.
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The objectives of the Chamber also includes to arrange
for the education and training of the management and workers
of various commercial and industrial enterprises to create
awareness regarding the latest amendments in the relevant
laws and their implications. In order to achieve the same,
many capacity building seminars and fora were organized in
which a large number of members benefited and got suitable
acquaintance of the legal provisions helping them to run
their affairs smoothly.
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For the first time in the history of Chamber,
comprehensive industrial production data was provided to the
World Bank, Federal Bearue of Statistics, Provincial
Directorate of Industries and other policy makers for
determination of GDP of Balochistan with the cooperation of
many industries, who promptly responded to the request of
the Chamber. In fact the correct determination of GDP of
Balochistan will help the Government to allocate appropriate
funds for the development projects.
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It is for the first time that the Chamber in continuation
to its efforts to provide conducive environments for smooth
running of industrial activities, organized a meeting of all
the managers and executives of different commercial and
industrial units and the government officials stationed in
Lasbela District to provide them opportunity to interact
with each other on all matters relating to the compliance of
various relevant laws and to create coordination and harmony
between them., which is essential for the development of
economic activities in region.
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As usual the Chamber invited the proposals for the Budget
2007-08 and Trade Policy 2007-08 from the
members. After the receipt of proposals, the same were
compiled and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, CBR and
the Ministry of Commerce, besides the Government of
Balochistan. I am especially thankful to Mr. M.S. Lodhia and
Mr. Faisal Lodhia of M/s. Dongfeng Board Pakistan, Hub for
their cooperation and assistance to compile the proposals.
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I observed that the condition of RCD Highway passing
through the Hub City was in very dilapidated condition
posing security risk not only to the people but for the
foreigner as well visiting Hub indusial area. The Nazim Hub
Tehsil Mr. Jamil Gichki was very much worried about the
same. Consequently we met with concerned Director of NHA who
arranged the repair of this Road.
Similarly Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Senior Vice President took
serious notice of dangerous position of Hub Bridge linking
Karachi with Balochistan, discussed the same with LIEDA and
City Government and invited the attention of NHA, who
started the repair work which is still going on.
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The Chamber has been pursuing the matter of laying of
railway track from Karachi to Hub and onwards to Gawader via
Gaddani. During the visit of Gaddani in May, 2006, the
President of Pakistan has given the approval of this project
and Pakistan Railway is conducting its survey to prepare its
feasibility.
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Due to various political scenarios, there were a bit up
and down law & order situations in the region, especially at
Hub, asking for strengthening of Law Enforcing Agencies
posted at Hub. During the visit to Hub recently the IG
Police, Balochistan realizing the situation, posted a SP at
Hub and orders issued for further improvement in the
mobility of the Police personal, construction of Police
Office and Police lines etc.
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Mr. Meherban Shah of Pakistan Mines and Industrial Trade
Unions Federation filed cases against many factories under
Minimum Wages Act. I especially appreciate the efforts of
Mr. Siddique Rafi of M/s. Otsuka Pakistan Limited, Hub due
to which the application was rejected by the Honourable
Court under the above Act.
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In order to comply with the requirements of Environmental
Protection Laws in Pakistan, it was proposed that a Combined
Affluent Water Treatment Plant may be installed in Hub to
treat the industrial affluent water before it goes to Hub
River. The Government at Federal, Provincial and District
Levels have agreed to finance 95% of Project Cost with 5% by
stakeholders. As proposed by the Consultants, LIEDA has
completed the topographical survey of HITE and other
industrial areas and the work on proper installation of
sewerage system has started, so that all the waste water may
go to the main sewerage outlet.
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Here, I would like to mention the taking over of 50-Bed
hospital of Workers Welfare Board at HITE, Hub for which it
is the Honour for the Chamber that Government itself
selected the Chamber for its management which is an
achievement of the Chamber. It was cancelled by the Workers
Welfare Board on the objection of Quetta Chamber. Now it was
revived to the Chamber by the Board. After completion of its
construction, the Hospital Building has been handed over to
the Chamber. The procurement and installation of machinery
and equipment is under process by the Workers Welfare Board,
Balochistan. Dr. Muhammad Aslam SVP during a meeting with
Secretary Labour and Manpower Mr. Wahid Bukhsh Baloch
invited his attention towards this matter and it is hoped
that the hospital will start its functioning very soon.
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It is for the first time the Chamber started distribution of
food bags from the Zakat Fund in the holy month of Ramzan
from the Zakat collected from its members. Similarly Food
items were provided to the affectees of floods in Lasbela
District directly or through the Nazim, Hub Tehsil and other
Notables of the region.
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I am also satisfied that with the cooperation and
assistance of LIEDA and City and District Governments of Hub
and Lasbela, the Chamber has been able to participate in
welfare activities from the platform of Lasbela Development
Committee, which is contributing to raise the standard of
living of the people of this region. I am
confident that the Lasbela Development Committee would
extend its scope of activities in the form of NGO and will
undertake big projects of building infrastructure for the
people of the region.
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At the end I would like to express my sincere thanks to
my colleagues in the Executive Committee, and the members of
the Chamber for their cooperation, guidance, assistance and
support specially to Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Mr.Iqbal Ismail,
Mr. Saleem H. Mandviwalla, Mr. Maqsood Ismail, Mr. Ismail
Suttar, Mr. Muhammad Sadiq Khan and Mr. Tariq Rafi who have
been always there for my full support, guidance, and
appreciation. I am also grateful to Mr. Shaukat Ahmed, Mr.
Babar Bashir Nawaz, Mr. Mohammad Amin, Mr.Talib Zaki, Mr.
Abdul Razaque and Mr. Mohammad Saleem Kapadia for their
consistent support and active participation and guidance
from time to time. I also appreciate the cooperation and
firm support from Mr. Shabbir Diwan and Mr. Khaliqur Rehman
who were always behind me giving me strength, whenever I
needed the same.
I am particularly thankful to the President General (R)
Pervez Musharraf, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr.
Shaukat Aziz, Federal Ministers particularly Former Minister
for Industries, Investment and Special Initiatives Mr.
Jehangir Tareen, Governor of Balochistan Mr. Owais Ahmed
Ghani, Former Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Mohammad
Yousuf and Provincial Ministers of Balochistan particularly
the Former Minister for Industries & Commerce Mir Abdul
Ghafoor Lehri and Secretary Labour & Manpower, Mr. Wahid
Bukhsh Baloch, Acting Secretary Workers Welfare Board,
Balochistan,
Mr. Rasheed Tareen, MD, LIEDA Col (R) Bashir Ahmed Nadim,
Lasbela District Nazim Jam Kamal Khan, Hub Tehsil Nazim Mr.
Jameel Gichki and other Government Functionaries for their
support, guidance and patronage to the Chamber, without
which the Chamber could not have achieved its objectives of
improving the working conditions for trade and industry in
this region.
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Not the least my sincere thanks and
appreciation is also due to the Secretary of the Chamber Mr.
Abdul Rasheed, the Public Relations Officer Mr. Mohammad
Farhan and other staff members of the Chamber for the
dedication and the role played by them for the achievement
of the objectives of the Chamber.
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