KARACHI: In a strong display of solidarity, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) have jointly voiced firm opposition to the Tax Ordinance (Amendment) 2025, calling it detrimental to business growth and investor confidence in Pakistan.
At a high-profile meeting hosted by KCCI, a visiting RCCI delegation joined hands with their Karachi counterparts to outline a strategic roadmap for collaborative advocacy. The meeting aimed to deepen inter-chamber coordination and initiate the formation of an Inter-Chambers Harmony Committee—an inclusive platform to unify chambers nationwide under one umbrella.
Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, speaking via Zoom, emphasized that fragmented representation has weakened the business community’s impact on policymaking. “It’s time for all chambers, including KCCI and RCCI, to raise a single, powerful voice. We face the same issues—crippling taxation, energy inflation, and regulatory overreach—and must respond with unity,” he stated. He criticized harsh policies like SRO709 and SRO350, calling them tools of harassment.
President KCCI Muhammad Jawed Bilwani reiterated his long-standing collaboration with RCCI, highlighting the urgent need for unified lobbying. He warned that the new tax ordinance, if implemented, would drive further capital flight and disincentivize local enterprise. “Pakistan’s global business credibility is on the decline. RCCI and KCCI must lead a collective stand to reverse this trend through credible, merit-based dialogue,” he said.
President RCCI Usman Shaukat underlined that the economic challenges affect all chambers equally. “The government’s divide-and-rule strategy must be countered with a joint response. RCCI is committed to working alongside KCCI and others to push for reforms that truly support business,” he stated. He also invited KCCI to participate in RCCI’s upcoming All Pakistan Chambers Conference for wider economic discourse.
RCCI Group Leader Sohail Altaf called for institutional cooperation and proposed that RCCI and KCCI formalize their alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). “Our combined voice can set a precedent for all chambers. Together, RCCI and KCCI can become catalysts for meaningful reform,” he asserted.
Both KCCI and RCCI reaffirmed their dedication to fostering an enabling environment for businesses, urging the government to abandon coercive tax measures and instead promote industrial growth, economic justice, and policy consistency.