Khalid Iqbal Malik, former President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry has taken oath as new Chairman, Founder Group of ICCI. Outgoing Chairman Founder Group Mian Akram Farid administered oath to the incomg Chairman during a ceremony held at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. After taking oath, Khalid Iqbal Malik thanked all members of the Founder Group for giving him this important responsibility and assured that he would play a role to further strengthen the Group and take all major decisions in consultation with its members. He said that he would guide ICCI in promoting the interests of the business community more effectively. He lauded the services of Mian Akram Farid, outgoing Chairman Founder Group and said that he would benefit from his experience to make the Group stronger. He said that according to a recent report of Asian Development Bank, Pakistan has just 30 percent trade-to-GDP ratio, which is one of the lowest in the world as our trade in limited items was focused on a few countries including USA, EU, China and Afghanistan. He urged that the government should focus on diversification of products and markets to enhance its trade-to-GDP ratio as Pakistan has tremendous potential to improve its exports. He said that the government should reduce import duties on industrial raw materials, machinery & plants to promote industrialization and exports that would improve our trade-to-GDP ratio. Mian Akram Farid, outgoing Chairman Founder Group thanked all the members of Group and ICCI for extending him full cooperation and support in running the affairs of Group in a democratic manner. He congratulated Khalid Iqbal Malik for his elevation in the Founder Group and hoped that he would guide ICCI with his experience in promoting the interests of the business community in an effective manner. Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Shakeel Munir President, Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh Senior Vice President and Muhammad Faheem Khan Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry congratulated Khalid Iqbal Malik on assuming charge as Chairman Founder Group and hoped that ICCI would take benefit from his knowledge and experience in further improving its performance. They also lauded the services of Mian Akram Farid, outgoing Chairman Founder Group who always guided ICCI in running its affairs smoothly. Khalid Javed, Zubair Ahmed Malim, Tariq Sadiq, Zafar Bakhtawari, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Nasir Qureshi, Zahid Maqbool, Sheikh Amir Waheed, Muhammad Ahmed, Ch. Naseer, Ajmal Baloch, Malik Sohail Hussain, Muhammad Naveed Malik, Khalid Chaudhry, Ch. Masood, Presidents of various market associations and a large number of business community members were  present at the occasion. They congratulated Khalid Iqbal Malik on taking over charge as Chairman Founder Group and expressed best wishes for him.