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Karachi, February 12, 2015 (PPI-OT): Chairman of Businessmen Group and former President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Siraj Kassam Teli has said that KCCI’s 12th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony exhibition will be organized with same zeal and enthusiasm from 10th to 12nd April 2015 at Karachi Expo Center, with a prime objective to project the positive image of Karachi.
Speaking at a press conference at KCCI on Thursday, BMG Chairman, while highlighting the significance of Karachi, stated that Karachi city has been contributing around 67 to 68 percent revenue to the national exchequer as the businessmen and industrialists, despite so many security threats and rising lawlessness, continue to run their businesses and factories because they all love this soil and this city and they will never even think of leaving this city.
Vice Chairman BMG, Anjum Nisar, President KCCI, Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, Senior Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi, Vice President KCCI, Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, Chairman KCCI Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition, Muhammad Idrees, Former President KCCI, Mian Abrar Ahmed, Haroon Agar, A.Q. Khalil and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.
Siraj Kassam Teli particularly appreciated the support being extended by media and Sindh government in making this exhibition a resounding success since its inception in 2004. “Every year, the new office bearers of KCCI try their best to further improve this event as compared to the previous exhibition, which has resulted in enhancing this exhibition from three stalls in 2004 to all six halls of expo center in 2015.”
He said that besides foreign participation, this year’s My Karachi Exhibition was likely to attract more than 700,000 visitors. “This exhibition is not being staged to earn profits but its main objective was to promote the positive image of Karachi around the world”, he added.
Highlighting the history of My Karachi Exhibition, Siraj Teli recalled that during his tenure as President KCCI, they felt there was a need to clarify the negative perception about Karachi city, which mainly emerged due to negative projection by the media, particularly the western media. “We decided to organize My Karachi Exhibition in 2004 and since then, it is constantly being staged every year.
My Karachi Exhibition keeps on improving thanks to all the Former KCCI Presidents of BMG who make untiring efforts every year with a focus on further improving this exhibition as compared to previous exhibitions. He also appreciated the support being extended by the Consulates of various countries in Karachi who have been constantly participating in this exhibition.
Siraj Teli was fairly optimistic that although this year’s exhibition was being staged a little earlier in the month of April, but due to untiring efforts being made KCCI Office Bearers, Managing Committee members and the staff, My Karachi exhibition will once again be yet another successful event.
He further pointed out that all BMGians at KCCI have been dedicatedly discharging their services under the slogan of “Public Service” and the office bearers are strictly directed to listen to and resolve the genuine issues of any businessman or industrialist who climbs KCCI’s stairs for assistance without any discrimination of cast, colour or creed.
Thanks to BMG’s transparent policies, the Karachi Chamber, which was facing severe financial crisis in 1998, now holds funds of around Rs360 million as BMG, after taking control of KCCI affairs, ensured that public money was not being wasted or misused at any cost”, he added.
To a question, BMG Chairman further commented that crime rate in Karachi city as compared to some of most developed cities around the world was not so bad but it is a matter of concern that even a minor incident in any area of Karachi was being projected in such a manner that it gives a negative impression about the entire city.
He said that some improvement has been witnessed in the incidents of target killings in Karachi but incidents pertaining mobile, car and bike snatching, thefts, burglaries and other street crimes have risen sharply which require immediate attention.
Earlier, President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra highlighted the basic theme of My Karachi Exhibition which is to promote the positive and soft image of Karachi by inviting maximum number of foreign and local delegates and exhibitors at this mega event. He also urged the media to support this event in order to help KCCI in its mission to promote Karachi as peaceful and business friendly city.
Chairman of KCCI Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition, Muhammad Idrees, while highlighting some of salient features of the exhibition, termed this event as one the biggest events of Karachi city where spot sales will be allowed to exhibitors. “This year, KCCI plans to establish a dedicated pavilion to promote Designers Lawn fabrics as Pakistan’s finest designers’ lawn have received global recognition so we felt it necessary to promote their products from My Karachi’s platform”, he added.
He said that 12th My Karachi Exhibition will be spread over all six halls of Karachi Expo Center where a total 263 stalls will be established. “The exhibition will also be open for all the media houses who can also play their role in promoting the positive image of Karachi city by organizing live shows at the venue”, he said, adding that the media houses interested in organizing live shows should inform KCCI as early as possible so that arrangements could accordingly be made to facilitate live shows.
For more information, contact:
Aamir Hassan
Director Press/Electronic Media and Public Relations
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat,
Karachi-74000
Phone: +92-21-99218001-09
Fax: +92-21-99218040
Email: info@kcci.com.pk, secretary@kcci.com.pk
Website: www.kcci.com.pk