Federation urges Sindh government and police authorities to withdraw the alleged false case and launch an inquiry into the complaint.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has strongly condemned the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) alleging water theft against Faisal Moiz Khan, a prominent industrialist and leader of the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI).
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh described the FIR as false, fabricated and malicious, terming its registration an act of harassment and victimisation against Karachi’s business and industrial community.
He said Faisal Moiz Khan had consistently worked to address civic and infrastructure challenges in the North Karachi Industrial Area, including highlighting water supply shortages and leakages before the relevant authorities.
According to the FPCCI president, implicating an industrial leader in an alleged fabricated water theft case was an attempt to damage his reputation and intimidate business representatives raising concerns about basic utility services.
FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon said Karachi’s industrial sector was already facing high business costs, severe utility shortages and broader economic challenges.
He added that instead of facilitating manufacturers and exporters, the use of coercive measures and allegedly baseless criminal cases against senior trade body representatives could undermine investor confidence and disrupt industrial activity.
FPCCI Vice President and Regional Chairman Sindh Abdul Mohamin Khan said the business community across Sindh stood united behind Faisal Moiz Khan and NKATI. He warned against what he described as high-handedness and misuse of authority by utility and law enforcement officials.
The FPCCI leadership has called on Sindh Chief Minister, the provincial Minister for Local Government, Inspector General of Police Sindh and Managing Director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) to ensure the immediate withdrawal of the FIR.
The federation has also demanded a transparent, high-level inquiry into the circumstances and motives behind the complaint. It called for strict departmental and legal action against any officials found responsible for abusing their authority or harassing a member of the business community.
FPCCI warned that failure to withdraw the FIR and hold responsible officials accountable could damage confidence among trade bodies across Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. It said such developments could further discourage investment at a time when industrial businesses are already dealing with significant operational and economic pressures.
The federation maintained that business representatives should be able to raise concerns about infrastructure and utility shortages without facing intimidation or unjustified legal action.