Seeking Solution from Part & Parcel of the Problem – “All Pakistan Presidents of CCIs Conference” Successful or Failed ?

Tazeen Akhtar

The Presidents of Rawalpindi Islamabad and some other Chambers of Commerce have called on the government to Review agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). This demand has been raised in the wake of highly inflated electricity bills that have left the public and the businessmen community in the lurch while government is blamed of sucking the blood of the nation in the name of electricity rates.

The demand is genuine and timely as well as in the best interest of the government that is losing its fame and honor like an object is rolling down on the slope. It is all only because the most cruel and crushing tariff of electricity but very hard to be fulfilled because of two basic reasons;

1- The conference was convened very late on 25-26 June while the federal Budget is in final shape

2- Solution was sought from who are the part & parcel of the problem

Mentionable were Atif Akram Sheikh President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce, Saqib Rafiq , President RCCI, Samina Fazil Group Leader Islamabad Women Chamber,

Punjab; Kashif Anwar,President Lahore CCI.Tariq Jadoon President Rawalpindi Chamber of Small Traders & Small Induatries , One from Sarhad Chamber of Commerce etc. Mirza Zaffar Iqbal SVP DG Khan Chamber , Sajid Hussain Tarar President Sargodha Chamber ,Sikandar Ishfaq Gujrat Chamber ,Malik Khawar Shahzad President Jhelum,Shamim Aftab president Sargodha Women Chamber, Muhammad Faraz President Gujrat Small Chamber ,

Sindh; Iftekhar Ahmad Sheikh, President Karachi CCI, Ms.Saeeda Bano president Karachi Women Chamber, Gurdas Wadhwani, Acting President Sukkar Chamber,Pardeep Kumar Rajani President Dadu Chamber,

KPK; Perviz Khattak, President Kohat Chamber , Babar Hammyun Khan, President Swabi, Ms. Azra Jamshaid president Peshawar Women Chamber , Syed Jawad Hussain President Khyber,Tayyab Khan Swati President Haripur ,Khwaja Abdul Qadoos Mohammed Agency Chamber ,

Balochistan; Abdul Ahad Agha Vice President Quetta Chamber, Olus Yar Khan President Chaman Chamber,

Gilgit/Baltistan; Imran Ali President Gilgit Chamber, Qurban Ali President Nagar Chamber,Muhammad Raziq president Hunza Chamber ,Ms.Khushnoor Dedar president Gilgit Women Chamber ,

Azad Kashmir; Sabir Hussain Shah President Mirpur ,

 That was good presence but the timeline of the conference failed the purpose because the budget was already in the process of approval.

The Ministers who attended the conference were Ahsan Iqbal, planning, Qaisar Shaikh maritime. The conference was meant for the Budget proposals. Minister Finance was the most relevant. Then Minister Industries, Commerce, Energy should have been invited. No one from the relevant ministers was seen in the conference that tells another story that it was a show only with no amendment in the Budget.

The demand about the IPPs was launched in the presence of Chairman Senate Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani YRG who have been part and parcel of agreements with IPPs during second government of PPP led by late Benazir Bhutto. At that time , 1993 to 1996, Nawaz Sharif was opposition leader and a big critic of the agreements of IPPs that were signed on heavy rates.

YRG was Prime Minister when he designed and approved energy policy of the country. How much it has been implemented even after 13 long years? Not so much. YRG was the Prime Minister when the then PM Russia Mr. Putin agreed to support CASA-1000 energy project. Russia provided $ 500 Million at that time. What is the development on this project? Zero.

Now when they have drawn the attention of YRG and he holds an influential position in the green book of Pakistan, lets see how much seriously , he takes the demand and what result he can provide. In the light of the history of PPP in energy sector, the demand of the conference seems like , to ask for the action on a murder from the murderer.

PPP governments from Benazir Bhutto (1993-96)to YRG (with Asif Zardari President 2008 -13) are fully responsible for what the energy landscape is found in Pakistan now. When YRG was ousted by Supreme Court from office of PM, the next PPP PM Raja Pervez Ashraf hired Rental Electricity Plants and signed more costly projects than the IPPs. The opposition called him “Raja Rental” and the title became public in no time.

In short , PPP is the main responsible for bringing IPPs and Rental Power Houses in the country that have deprived the public of their hard earned money in the shape of electricity charges for last decades. As long as PMLN ministers are concerned, they do not have the weight to take a step against IPPs. Like Sugar industry, the Independent Power Producers companies are mostly owned by the same who decide the fate of this nation.

What is the second option than seeking the solution from the government that is said to run the everyday affairs of the government by the same rise in the rates of utilities including electricity, fuel gas, petrol etc? One good option is to move the Supreme Court by filing a writ petition from All Pakistan Chambers jointly.

ICCI , in its press release said that some landmark declaration outlining a comprehensive roadmap for the country’s economic growth and development has been presented in the conference. The declaration, endorsed by business leaders from across Pakistan, Prioritize industrial development and regional trade promotion. Interestingly not a single line of the declaration has been shared to media.

What in the name of the Declaration was shared is , “The gov should provide a better business environment and simplify tax collection procedures.Establish industrial parks and provide electricity to industries at a reasonable tariff.Promote digital transformation and provide duty-free status for IT equipment. Offer easy loans for industries and incentivize exporters.The conference emphasized the need for strategic planning and collective efforts to achieve a tax revenue target of Rs 10,950 billion and a GDP growth rate of 3.6%.”

These are general demands only that are put forward by everyone. Most of this paragraph consists of the UBG’s own business interests and it has nothing to do with the overall bad state of affairs in the state. And there is no Solution mentioned or nothing has been shared about how it can be done.

President ICCI, Ahsan Bakhtawari, however hailed the (not public) declaration as (what he said) embodies the collective thinking of the “nationwide business community” and charts a new course for the country’s economic trajectory. He vowed to ensuring that the recommendations reach every pivotal decision-making platform, including the government. He urged the government to acknowledge and integrate the business community’s proposals into policy making.

Mr. Bakhtawari is supposed to release a copy to the press as well if it is prepared and it is present. ICCI issues two press releases every day to the press. Why the copy of the declaration has not been released to the press? If released , press can publish the recommendations to further enhance pressure on the government to implement it.

On 27 June, in a networking dinner, Ahsan Bakhtawari said a joint declaration will be issued and forwarded to all the relevant quarters including the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Commerce Minister and the Army Chief. ARMY CHIEF ?

Well, young ICCI President may have something in his mind no doubt but apparently Army Chief has nothing to do with the demands or recommendations of the business community. He is commander in chief of armed forces of the country. Or Mr. Bakhtawari is afraid that his demand will not be addressed by the government and wants to create a pressure.

Actually it can be seen as a threat as well. What is the wisdom behind it? He does not trust the gov and thus the gov may put aside/ throw away, the demands /recommendations. And Army Chief has more work related to his assignment than be engaged with the traders. Result…… No Result.

Patron in Chief UBG, S.M.Tanvir’s statement portrayed a total different picture of business atmosphere in the country than what Mr. Bakhtawari or the joint statements of the conference elaborated. Tanvir said that  a number of foreign investors are keen to invest and the government is offering all the necessary facilities in this regard. He did not mention the names of the international companies but his one sentence can be seen at 180 degree than the overall narrative of the conference.

Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, again a PPP MNA from Karachi assured that budget will be passed without any hurdle and that the IMF package will also have a smooth sail. Here we can recall Saleem Mandvi Wala’s (Again a PPP Parliamentarian and former minister from Karachi )statement on a TV Channel that PPP will not allow Budget to be approved in the present shape.

The budget has been approved and interestingly 103 allocations out of total 130 were approved in just half an hour. 85% allocations in just 30 minutes. One can easily find out how many in Seconds……. were seconded by PPP as ally of the gov.

Secretary General UBG Zafar Bakhtawari underlined the need for reforming country’s foreign policy aligned with friendship with all the countries instead of indulging in enmities for pulling the country from the existing economic turmoil.

He did not mention the names of the enemy countries. Actually it is one and only. INDIA. Here recall above noted Ahsan’s statement that a copy of recommendations sent to Army Chief. So lets see what comes out from Army House for what Zafar Bakhtawari has demanded.

Senior Vice President Faad Waheed Sheikh and Vice President Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar also highlighted the importance of the Conference by welcoming the honourable guests.

It is noteworthy that more than thirty Ambassadors attended the dinner and appreciated the ICCI for representing the business community effectively and efficiently.