Karachi, February 25, 2026 – Leading business figures in Pakistan have voiced serious concerns over the proposed amendments to the Trade Organization Rules (TORs) 2013, warning that the changes could dismantle district chambers and harm local economies nationwide.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh expressed grave concern over the proposed legislation, stating that it has sent shockwaves through the business community. “The business environment is already fragile due to internal and external trade barriers. Chambers of Commerce serve as the last resort for businesses to raise their voices. The proposed amendments could eliminate district-level chambers, destroy institutional frameworks, and devastate district economies,” he said. Sheikh emphasized that district chambers play a vital role in shaping local economies, supporting SMEs, women-led businesses, and export-oriented enterprises. He urged Parliament to reject the bill and allow district chambers to continue their operations.
S.M. Tanveer, Patron-in-Chief of the United Business Group (UBG) at FPCCI, warned that the amendments could result in the closure of multiple representative trade bodies. Speaking with UBG Sindh Regional Chairman Sheikh Khalid Tawab, Tanveer highlighted that restricting trade organizations to municipal city limits would deprive industrial estates, SME clusters, and rural export units of proper representation. He stressed that district chambers are essential for local economic development, employment generation, and business cluster formation, mirroring global economic practices.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI and Chairman of BMP-Progressive (BMPP), echoed these concerns, cautioning that abrupt changes to the TORs would undermine years of institutional progress. “District chambers are the backbone of grassroots economic activity. Excluding them would severely impact SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and local economies,” he stated.
Khurram Ijaz, Secretary General of BMPP and former Vice President of FPCCI, added that the proposed amendments could “weaken the very foundation of business representation in Pakistan.” He stressed, “District chambers are not just administrative entities—they are engines of local growth, facilitating SMEs, women-led businesses, and exporters. Undermining them could stall regional development and erode investor confidence.”
All leaders called on lawmakers to reconsider the proposed amendments, emphasizing that preserving district-level chambers is crucial for sustaining economic growth, trade representation, and policy advocacy across Pakistan.