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FPCCI to help meet Rs 35m shortfall for Bagh-e-Quaid project

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has assured full cooperation and support to the Pakistan Army for meeting the shortfall of Rs 35 million required for the completion of Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam project.

The assurance was given during a presentation on Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam project arranged at the Corps Auditorium, Liaquat barracks, Karachi, by Commander Engineers 5 Corps. The presentation was well conducted by Brig. Tariq Ali Khan and Brig. Arif Ghazali and attended by a about fifty members of the Managing Committee and Life Members of FPCCI and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mahmood Ahmed, Acting President, FPCCI, appreciated the Bagh-e-Jinnah project being undertaken by the Pakistan Army at a total cost of Rs 250 million. He said that the FPCCI could assist in collecting donations from the business community to meet the shortfall of Rs 35 million provided CBR exempted donations from Income Tax. He also suggested that the State Bank of Pakistan be asked to give permission to scheduled banks to accept donations. He pointed out that the businessmen making donation should not be asked about their source of income keeping in view the national importance of the project.

It was agreed that the Corps Commander would use his good offices to get the necessary permission in this regard.

The Acting President of FPCCI said that it was not an impossible task and suggested that he would constitute a Committee in the FPCCI to encourage the businessmen and industrialists throughout the country to contribute their share in the project.

Masood Ismail, Vice President, FPCCI welcomed the efforts of the Pakistan Army for undertaking the Bagh-e-Jinnah project and hoped that it would be completed as scheduled on December 25, 2000.

S M Muneer while referring to the recent statement made by the Interior Minister Lt Gen Moinuddin Haider (Retd), that Karachi was the city of philanthropists, said that it was the best compliment to the people of Karachi. He suggested that instead of importing lighting fixtures for the Bagh-e-Jinnah, local-made products should be used which are of standard quality and can save money.

Raja Abdul Rehman praised the role of Army and said that they are practical people and we should emulate them. He offered to donate about ten percent of the shortfall money i.e. Rs 35 lakh for the project, which was appreciated.

Sardar Mohammad Ashraf Khan acknowledged the initiative of the Army to provide funds for the first time to a social sector project in line with the aspiration of the Chief Executive. He termed it a good gesture by the Pakistan Army and assured that the FPCCI would be able to collect Rs 35 million through its efforts.

Hanif Lakhani, Acting President of KCCI, assured that his Chamber would donate one million rupees for the project. Similarly, Maqsood Ismail, Vice President FPCCI, S M Muneer and Sardar Mohammad Ashraf Khan also promised to give donations.

The FPCCI has appealed to the business community throughout the country to donate generously to the Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam Project and send their donations to account No. AC 011650352-I at Askari Commercial Bank, Clifton Branch, Karachi.