Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, Governor of Sindh launched Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry's flagship 6th Annual International Exhibition "My-Karachi, Oasis of Harmony (2009)", on 3rd April, 2009 at local hotel of Karachi. Anjum Nisar, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry in his welcome address informed that said exhibition would be organized from 5th to 7th June, 2009 at Expo Centre Karachi which is another sequel to KCCI annual international event. He asserted that every year beside corporate & public sector of Pakistan, hundreds of international exhibitors and companies participate from over 15 countries from worldwide. He enlightened that KCCI started this mega exhibition event in 2004 with the initiative of Siraj Kassam Teli, the then President of KCCI, which received acclamation on both National & International forums. In view of its significance & magnitude, Government of Sindh & City Government Karachi co-host this momentous exhibition every year. Core objective of this mega event is to project and promote the true and real picture of Karachi & Pakistan with an emphasis on Karachi as centre of commercial activities as well as hub for financial & service centre of Pakistan, he added.
KCCI Chief contended that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry has designed 6th "MY-KARACHI - Oasis of Harmony (2009)" exhibition, to act as the avenue for interactive (B2B) business-to-business linkages and (B2C) business to consumer relationship. KCCI's "MY-KARACHI Expo" is a showcase platform for domestic and global products and services to small traders, large industries, FMCG manufacturers, service providers, multinational companies, financial institutions and social welfare agencies of Pakistan. Exhibitors from Germany, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE & Sri Lanka have already confirmed their participation in the "My-Karachi-2009" expo whereas some other countries have also consented for their representation in the expo. He expressed his heartfelt compliments to the Sindh Govt, CDGK, Excellencies of Diplomatic Corps, international & national participants & supporters of the KCCI flagship expo. Over 600,000 visitors are expected this year in "My-Karachi-2009 Exhibition", PEPSI & Del-Monte are the event partners, and Jang, The News & GEO TV have joined as the Media Partners, he added.
Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group and former President KCCI expressed cordial gratitude to the Governor of Sindh and appreciated the worthy patronage of Sindh Govt. & CDGK for My-Karachi- Oasis of Harmony (2009)". He articulated that KCCI flagship "My-Karachi Expo" truly depicts Karachi as city of lights & land of opportunities & a business hub. "My-Karachi Expo" truly represents Pakistan in terms of cultural cross section in a unique urban scenario & Karachi is recognized and valued as diversified fastest growing city and a gateway for Central Asia. However, continuously its image is tarnished by way of adverse propaganda made by the Western media, and the state of affairs demand that Karachiities specially the business and industrial community to come forward to combat and rebuild the image of metropolis.
While paying commendation to Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan, Governor of Sindh, on the remarkable and enormous achievements made by the Sindh Government under his able guidance and governance during the past six years in all the sectors of development - civic, social, cultural, economic and environment. The speedy progress and development in Karachi is an ample proof that the Honourable Governor and the City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal who need an applause for their tremendous hardwork in the development of the city which nobody can deny. He stated that with the personal support and encouragement of Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan and the hardwork of Business and Industrial Community and BMG, Karachi Chamber has made commendable efforts to portray the real face of Karachi as a peaceful city, having prudent people and pragmatic business community. Despite the global economic recession and unrest in the national economy, business community of Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular remain steadfast to triumph over the impediments which intend to slow the wheels of industry and distress the trading circles. In My-Karachi - Oasis of Harmony as usual, domestic as well as foreign businesses are participating to synchronize their trades, he added. Commenting on the national economy and Govt. policies he said that the solutions to problems arose due to global economic recession were delayed due to wrong monetary policy; by not following supply side of economics and trying to control inflation through increase in interest rates and tightening of monitory policy has failed. These policies of our government has raised the cost of doing business of our industrial sector and made us uncompetitive in the world market and at the same time making the standard of living costly for our people specially food items and transportation. He also fervently appealed the Governor Sindh to intervene with the Federal Govt. to resolve the power crisis & KESC issue otherwise, the City of lights would be deliberately pushed to utter darkness, resulting to a colossal unrest in the metropolis for all spheres of life.
Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, Advisor to CM Sindh for Provincial Investment, Vice Chairman BMG & former President KCCI, revealed light on the purpose of organizing the "My-Karachi-2009 Expo" which is to promote the national economy, to showcase "Made in Pakistan" products and to provide opportunities & access to our business community in International Exhibitions. He expressed that besides all the anomalies, unrest & uncertainty in the national economy, business community is acting as resilient force. Acts of terrorisms and other impediments in the progress of trade & industry could not shatter their determination and business community own full confidence in Pakistan and its economy. While recalling the meeting of KESC Officials with CM Sindh on energy crisis, he lamented that KESC's present administration has betrayed from its commitment to invest and improve the KESC infrastructure, likewise it is also failed to handle the power crisis and to deliver productive result. The attitude of KESC administration is disappointing and severely agitating and it is also not wilful to overcome the power crisis in Karachi. He requested the Governor Sindh to take the KESC issue with the Federal Govt.
M. A. Rauf Siddiqui, Minister for Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Sindh highly criticized the power crisis deliberately created by KESC in order to save their bucks, rather than fulfilling their commitment to revamp the infrastructure and its services. He lamented that the agonized attitude of KESC would shun the efforts of Ministry of Industries & Commerce to augment the trade & industry. He focused that electricity is a lifeline rather than luxury. Wheels of Industry cannot run due to severe power outages resulting decline in the exports. He also commented that lives of Karachiites are brutally affected due to prolonged power outages and students cannot prepare for the academic exams. He also informed that Nooriable Industrial Area Water Supply would likely be completed in next six months. He appreciated BMG & KCCI leadership for their efforts towards business community & for the development of national economy. He also assured his all time support & co-operation to business community, specially in context to "My-Karachi-Expo".
Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, Governor Sindh expressed heart-warming compliments to business community for organizing "My-Karachi-Expo". He stated that he hold the privilege of being the patron & supporter of KCCI's international venture "My-Karachi- Oasis of Harmony" since its inception in 2004. While conveying his felicitation, he assured his best support & co-operation to organize "My-Karachi Exhibition" and also iterated its significance as a mega event of Pakistan. He appreciated the worthy efforts of BMG & KCCI to promote trade & industry and to play a resilient role for Pakistan's economy. He asserted that he would take the matter of KESC on war-footing basis and urged upon the need of teamwork to tame and resolve the complicated issue of KESC. He sought the co-operation of Karachiites, Business Community and Federal & Provincial Govt. in this regard.
Syed Mohibullah Shah, CEO TDAP, ranked "My-Karachi- Oasis of Harmony (2009)" among the top productive and business development exhibitions of Pakistan. He said that every year the said expo attracts maximum attention of foreign countries & their corporate sector due to its significance. He also admired KCCI to organizing Pakistan Pavilion in the Tripoli International Fair being held in this month at Tripoli-Libya. To encourage the role of Women Entrepreneurs in the national economy & to pay compliments to the Women Entrepreneurs Sub-Committee KCCI, he declared that TDAP would give a hall free-of-cost, dedicated for women entrepreneurs in the Expo Centre. Moreover, he also extended his pleasure to declare that TDAP would host a dinner or a lunch to honour the International participants from the globe & and their Diplomatic Corps likely to participate in "My-Karachi-2009".