MoC and FPCCI agree to form Joint Committee to address elections controversy

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Commerce(MoC) and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce (FPCCI) have agreed to constitute a joint committee to resolve the issue of elections controversy.
The decision was taken at a meeting with a delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) met with Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, to discuss the synchronization of FPCCI’s election cycle with other trade bodies.
The meeting was also attended by the Director General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), Bilal Khan Pasha, along with representatives from various trade bodies, including the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and FPCCI headquarters, who joined online.
During the meeting, FPCCI representatives emphasized the need to maintain the two-year mandate for office bearers and called for its implementation from 2026 to ensure consistency.
The delegation pointed out that the amendment package was originally prepared in 2022, and the FPCCI elections were conducted in 2023.
However, due to previous amendments, some retiring members ended up serving three-year terms, leading to variations in election cycles.
The current legal framework, as per the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Act, requires that FPCCI elections be held this year. However, if Section 3, Subsection 9 is invoked, the elections could be deferred to the next year.
FPCCI members stressed that elections should be synchronized across the business community and trade bodies to ensure smooth governance.
FPCCI expressed concerns that they had not been consulted during the amendment process, despite its direct effect on trade organizations. However, it was also clarified that FPCCI and other trade bodies were consulted during 2021 and 2022 regarding these amendments, and they had collectively supported the changes, which were later on passed in 2025.
The Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, urged all stakeholders to build a consensus on the issue.
Jam Kamal Khan proposed forming a committee to develop a mechanism that would be acceptable to all parties. “Take the day to firm up your options, and we will assess whether the matter should be taken to the Cabinet,” he stated.
The ongoing discussions reflect the business community’s concerns regarding policy continuity, election-related matters, and regulatory oversight. Stakeholders now await the committee’s recommendations to determine the next steps in aligning the election process. Ends