A twenty-member delegation of probationary officers from the Civil Services Academy’s 52nd Common Training Programme (CTP) visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to gain insight into the chamber's operations. The visit aimed to familiarize these officers with the workings of a key business institution and enhance their understanding of its role in fostering economic growth and facilitating ease of doing business.

Upon their arrival, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, the acting President of ICCI, extended a warm welcome to the officers and emphasized the important role they would play as future government officials. He acknowledged that these officers would be instrumental in shaping the country’s development and improving public governance in the future. Siddiqui elaborated on ICCI's role as one of the premier chambers in Pakistan, with particular regard to facilitating the ease of doing business. He explained that the ICCI serves as a vital bridge between the government and the business community, advocating for policies that benefit the business sector and the country’s overall economic prosperity.

In his address, Siddiqui mentioned several challenges faced by businesses, including high interest rates, power tariffs, the imposition of irrational taxes by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the bureaucratic bottlenecks posed by local authorities such as the Capital Development Authority (CDA). He underscored that, like other chambers in the country, ICCI is dedicated to overcoming these hurdles to ensure the smooth operation and growth of businesses. He also shared the Chamber’s efforts to create a level playing field for businesses, emphasizing the importance of providing a supportive environment for the private sector.

Siddiqui further explained the range of services offered by the ICCI, which include facilitating business operations through various partnerships and for the purpose the Chamber houses Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), and Police Facilitation Desks. Additionally, the Chamber operates a Mediation Council to quickly resolve tenant-owner disputes, fostering a more harmonious business environment.

The acting President also highlighted the ICCI’s regional and global outreach efforts. He mentioned the Chamber’s initiatives to strengthen business relationships with foreign countries by organizing business summits, exchanging delegations, and liaising with international chambers of commerce. He also pointed to the ICCI’s promotion of tourism in the northern areas of Pakistan, through tourism summits involving numerous ambassadors, which help highlight the region’s potential and attract international attention.

Siddiqui expressed the hope that the probationary officers would carry the lessons learned from the visit into their professional careers. He encouraged them to develop policies based on practical ground realities that would support sustainable development and improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan.

Former ICCI President Zahid Maqbool further stressed the importance of policy consistency for economic stability. He advocated for setting export targets for Foreign Missions, particularly trade consulates, to drive Pakistan’s economic growth and achieve the objectives of prosperity. Maqbool’s comments underscored the need for a clear and consistent policy direction to ensure sustainable economic progress.

Senior Special Advisor to the ICCI President, Naeem Siddiqui, conducted the session with great skill, focusing on the need for business-friendly policies. He pointed out the negative impact of policies that are detrimental to the business environment and called for the development of regulations that support business growth and innovation.

In closing, acting Senior Vice President Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry expressed his confidence that the probationary officers had gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the business community. He was optimistic that the officers would apply their newfound knowledge in their future roles, contributing to developing a business-friendly environment in their respective departments.

The event was attended by numerous ICCI members, including acting Vice President Chaudhry Mohammad Waseem, Executive Members Zulqurnain Abbasi, Malik Mohsin Khalid, Malik Abdul Aziz, Mohammad Imran Minhas, Rohail Anwar Butt, Ishaq Sial, Umair Abdul Nasir, and Ali Nawaz.