BoI chief admits govt failure to address business community issues

Federal Minister for the Board of Investment (BoI) Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh expressed grave concerns that the business community's issues remained unresolved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the past two and a half years, as the Businessmen Group (BMG) kicked off its election campaign at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Addressing Karachi's business community at a reception hosted on Sunday by BMG to unveil its 30 candidates for the elections, the minister said he was an elected representative of the business community in the National Assembly. Despite this, he failed to get the government's backing to resolve the business community issues at the Cabinet level. 'I have written several letters to PM Shehbaz over the past two and a half years, seeking an appointment to meet and brief him on the business community's issues,' said Shaikh. 'If a federal minister cannot meet the prime minister for two and a half years, then how will he be accessible to the country's business community, and how will the community be able to call on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman?' he questioned. He claimed that the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules were being violated at Port Qasim. 'I have informed the PM about this,' he said. BMG Chairman Zubair Motiwala introduced thirty candidates, who will contest KCCI's elections on Saturday (September 26). The office-bearers and committee members would be elected for a two-year term, from 2026 to 2028. Motiwala said they would continue to raise Karachi's voice, as the country's economic hub remained ignored by the power corridors. Despite this, Karachi continued to attract 55% of Pakistan's export earnings and generate 67% of the country's tax revenue, said Motiwala. 'If the city gets due attention, it has huge potential to increase its contribution to economic activities,' he said. BMG Vice Chairman Anjum Nisar said Pakistan's economy was in decline. The export earnings have remained stagnant for the past two decades, he said, increasing marginally to $30 billion in FY26 compared to $26 billion some 18 years ago.