The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with Directorate General Trade Organizations organized 4th DGTO Consultative Session at Chamber House for capacity building of Secretaries General and Office Bearers of Trade Organizations of North Region. 18 chambers, 15 associations, 3 coordinating trade bodies, 2 small chambers and 1 women chamber of North Region participated in the session. 
 

Addressing the Consultative Session, Waqar Ahmad Shah, Director General, Directorate General of Trade Organizations called upon the trade bodies and associations to supplement the government drive for promoting trade, export and investment inflows as the private sector has to take the lead in the economic development of the country. He said trade bodies representing private sector are critical for the successful achievement of economic and trade policies of the government. He said the process to strengthen trade bodies and turn them into credible institutions is important as their improved performance would help in promoting Pakistan’s trade, industry and services sectors. 
 

Waqar Ahmad Shah said that the office of DGTO is responsible to implement the provisions of Trade Organizations Act (TOA) and Trade Organizations Rules (TORs) 2013. He said understanding of regulatory regimes by the functionaries and office bearers is very important to bring efficiency and transparency in trade bodies so that they could better serve their members. He gave a detailed presentation to participants on the salient features of TOA and TORs 2013.
 

Speaking at the occasion, Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the Office of DGTO should bring further amendments in rules and regulations for TOs in consultation with stakeholders to bring them in conformity with the current day’s requirements. He appreciated the initiative of DGTO for organizing consultative session on capacity building of the functionaries and office bearers of trade bodies and stressed that such sessions should be organized in all major chambers of commerce and associations across the country to create maximum awareness in private sector about TOs rules and regulations that would help in improving their performance and promoting trade & exports of the country. 
 

Rafat Farid Senior Vice President, Iftikhar Anwer Sethi Vice President ICCI, Mian Tanveer Ahmed Senior Vice President Faisalabad CCI also spoke at the occasion and stressed for the need of further strengthening trade bodies and associations. Technical session and panel discussions were also held at the occasion.