Lahore
The city’s all major trade bodies and industrial associations have united under the banner of Progressive Customs Association Alliance (PCAA) against corrupt practices and embezzlement of millions of rupees funds by the LCCI ruling group of PIAF-Founders Alliance.
Progressive Customs Association Alliance president Ch Amjad, briefing the media at his election office, claimed that almost all foreign visits arranged by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry are misused, as most of the delegations consisted of fake businessmen who are nothing to do with any business activity. Giving the example of a business tour to UK by the Lahore chamber in the lead of president Sohail Lashari, the delegation of 54 persons had only 12 original businessmen while rest of the team was friends or relatives of the president, he claimed.
He also said that there are several examples that some people used to slip during the visit to Europe, as the embassies have complained several times in this regard.
Ch Amjad said that the incumbent president Sohail Lashari has crossed all limits, as chambers funds are being used for personal promotion and advertisement.
Kith and kin of the influential members were being sent abroad from the chambers platform. He said that Piaf-Founders Alliance has started coming forward to openly oppose the corrupt practices at chamber.
The other leaders of Progressive Customs Association Alliance including Tahir Malik and Sajid Mir said that a large number of city markets including Ferozrpur Road Marble Market, Anjuman e Tajran Ferozepur Road and Mall Road Traders Association, Air Cargo Association, Printing Press Association, Hafeez Centre, Samanabad, Brandreth Road, Badami Bagh, Liberty Market, Bilal Ganj and Taj Arcade have announced to support the Alliance in the LCCI elections scheduled for September 22 and 23.
Ch Amjad announced that his Alliance would serve the business community in the larger interest of economy and would urge government to form business friendly policies. He was of the view that Customs Progressive Alliance was the true answer to the economic meltdown.
Meanwhile the PIAF-Founders Alliance leaders Mian Anjum Nisar, Sheikh Asif and Sheikh Arshad said that the ruling alliance will expedite efforts for the withdrawal of all anti-business SROs like the way it has done in the previous years.
This was stated by them while addressing the business gatherings at Hall Road, Chamberlane Road, Rexine Market here on Sunday.
The leaders of all the three markets assured their full support to the Alliance and pledged to vote the PIAF-Founders Alliance candidates in the upcoming LCCI elections scheduled for September 22 and 23.