Adv Bassam A Siddiqi
BUSINESS is all about trust, authenticity and conviction in the affairs of individuals. However, when businessmen entrust a chamber or federation with the responsibility of addressing their issues, they do so with the hope that their challenges will be addressed. Nevertheless, the situation in Pakistan has always been far different. Chambers are run by pressure groups, while the federation caters to their political and economic aspirations. Meanwhile, the Institutions overlook irregularities in lieu of procedural ambiguities and ultimately, the businessman loses faith in the prospect of their challenges being addressed.
Political groupings within chambers are a regular affair; however, if elected representatives fail to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them, they must be held accountable by the business community. The first step towards such accountability is to ensure that the process of electing these representatives is beyond reproach. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) elections, scheduled for December 17, 2026, must not be viewed as a contest between rival business groups; rather this election is an opportunity to examine whether the country’s premier business body is governed by the confidence of the business community or by the influence of those who have mastered the mechanics of its electoral system. The distinction matters, because when an election is reduced to a contest of numbers, alliances and procedural manoeuvring, the interests of the wider business community becomes secondary to those, who are contesting elections and seeking office. The businessman who votes for a representative does so with the expectation that his concerns will find a place in the federation’s agenda. If that expectation is repeatedly disappointed, he eventually losses interest in the elected individuals, the pressure groups and broadly the institution itself. Hence, the electoral transparency must be viewed as the starting point of trust and meaningful representation.
This places the role of Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) considerably important. As the regulator overseeing the electoral affairs in the trade organizations, DGTO must ensure that the electoral process is conducted in accordance with the applicable legal framework and that no contestant is given an undue advantage through the manipulation of procedures. Furthermore, no alleged trickery or deceitfulness from the contesting groups should also be missed from the eyes of the regulator. From the start of the electoral processes till the final resolution of objections after the D-Day, the affairs must be handled with due impartiality, consistency and uniformness. Any ambiguity in these matters can become a source of contention, particularly when the competing groups have a vested interest in the composition of the electorate. The DGTO has to act before disputes become controversies. A transparent electoral process cannot be improvised on polling day; the baselines must be established through clear procedures, timely disclosures (notifications) and decisions that can withstand scrutiny. The relevant voter lists, election notifications and decisions on objections should be made accessible to stakeholders, subject to applicable legal requirements. Such measures would not eliminate competition, rather they would strengthen it. They would further help ensure that competition is determined by the rules rather than by the ability to exploit the shortcomings, if any.
The Ministry of Commerce must also complement this responsibility by ensuring that the DGTO has both the institutional capacity and the independence to perform its regulatory functions effectively. Oversight loses its value if it is exercised selectively or if procedural violations are addressed only after they have affected the outcome. The same standards must apply to every business group, regardless of its influence or established position within the federation. The objective should not be to determine who wins the election, but to ensure that whoever wins does so through a process that is lawful, transparent and credible.
There is also a larger question that deserves attention. What purpose does an election serve, if the authenticity of its outcome remains contested? A federation representing businesses from across Pakistan cannot afford to have its credibility overshadowed by doubts about the manner in which its leadership is chosen. At a time when businesses expect their representative institutions to engage effectively with the government on taxation, energy costs, exports, investment and economic policy, the FPCCI must be able to speak with authority. Elections on 17th December will be another test case for DGTO, if they can translate electoral transparency from a stated principle into an enforceable practice, or if the same old strategies will favour any particular influential business group.
—The author is currently working as Executive Director, Chamber of Legal Consultants (CLC).
