The senior leadership of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has announced its full and unconditional support for the Businessmen Group in the upcoming elections of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), stating that the Businessmen Group has always played an effective role in safeguarding the interests of the business community, promoting business activities, and addressing the challenges faced by the business community.
REAP’s Group Chairman, Abdul Rahim Janoo (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Acting Chairman, Muhammad Jawed Jillani, Former Chairman. Rafique Suleman, Former Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Raza, and Faisal Anees in a joint statement announced their complete and unconditional support for the Businessmen Group in the Karachi Chamber elections.
In their joint statement, REAP leadership said that Mr. Zubair Motiwala, Chairman of the Businessmen Group, played an important role two years ago in facilitating the election of two REAP members to the Managing Committee of the Karachi Chamber. Furthermore, former REAP Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Raza was nominated for the important position of Senior Vice President of the Karachi Chamber. This is a clear reflection of the strong and longstanding relationship between REAP and KCCI.
REAP leaders said that Mr. Zubair Motiwala has consistently prioritized the issues of the business community while representing Karachi’s business community and has effectively raised the voice of Karachi business community at various forums. They emphasized that KCCI represents country’s largest commercial and industrial hub; therefore, it is essential that its leadership maintains a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the business community, economic policies, and trade-related matters.
REAP leadership referred to the tenure of Mr. Zubair Motiwala when served as Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), he extended strong support to REAP and Pakistan’s rice exporters. During his tenure, various initiatives were undertaken to address the issues faced by exporters, facilitate access to international markets for Pakistani products, and promote exports.
Mr. Zubair Motiwala has always endeavored to strengthen effective coordination between the private sector and government institutions and has played a constructive role in bringing exporters’ concerns to the relevant forums.
They said that Karachi’s business community plays a fundamental and pivotal role in Pakistan’s economy. Karachi is not only the country’s largest commercial and industrial centre but also a major hub of Pakistan’s export activities. In such circumstances, the Karachi Chamber requires strong, effective, and dynamic leadership capable of maintaining constructive engagement with the government and taking practical measures to resolve the issues faced by traders and industrialists.
REAP leadership emphasized that the business community is currently facing numerous challenges. Addressing these issues requires strong, meaningful, and result-oriented coordination among the Karachi Chamber, government, and private sector.
They said that the Businessmen Group has effectively represented Karachi’s business and industrial community for many years and has raised a strong voice for safeguarding the collective interests of the business sector. The REAP leadership expressed hope that the Businessmen Group would continue to highlight the issues of Karachi’s business community on a priority basis and pursue practical efforts for their resolution.
The REAP leaders further stated that a substantial increase in exports is essential for strengthening Pakistan’s economy and that the government and private sector must work together to achieve this objective. They emphasized that rice exports are an important source of valuable foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan. Therefore, the timely and effective resolution of issues faced by rice exporters can play a significant role in strengthening the national economy and achieving Pakistan’s export targets.
They expressed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation between REAP and the Karachi Chamber in order to promote Pakistan’s export industry, particularly rice exports, and to enhance the effective promotion of Pakistani products in international markets.
REAP leadership appealed to all members of the Karachi business community to extend their wholehearted support to the candidates of the Businessmen Group. They expressed confidence that the Businessmen Group would emerge successful in the upcoming Karachi Chamber elections and further advance its longstanding mission of serving the business and industrial community.
In conclusion, the REAP leadership conveyed its best wishes to Mr. Zubair Motiwala and the leadership of the Businessmen Group, stating that unity, mutual cooperation, and collective efforts among all business organizations are the need of the hour for safeguarding the collective interests of the business community and contributing to Pakistan’s economic development.
