KARACHI: Member National Assembly Arshad Abdullah Vohra has urged the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to present its detailed proposals for the Federal Budget 2025-26. Vohra seeks the Chamber's guidance to help the Muttahida Business Forum (MBF) develop policies that align with Karachi's economic interests and those of the broader Sindh and Pakistan.

During a visit by the MBF delegation to KCCI, Vohra emphasized the importance of strategic input from KCCI this year. He noted that the National Assembly's Finance Committee is set to convene on May 22 and the MQM plans to formally support KCCI's proposals to advocate for inclusive and business-friendly reforms.

Key figures at the meeting included Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, President KCCI Jawed Bilwani, and other senior officials. The MBF delegation comprised several MNAs and MPAs, alongside former KCCI President Saeed Shafiq.

Vohra praised KCCI for consistently addressing Karachi's urgent challenges, including electricity, gas, and water shortages, along with taxation and infrastructure issues. He highlighted Karachi's significant contribution to national revenue and exports, while lamenting the declining business environment.

Addressing the burden on the salaried class, Vohra stressed the need for equitable tax measures. He called for unity among the business community to enact change and improve Karachi's conditions.

Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, speaking via Zoom, commended the MBF's formation as a positive step towards resolving Karachi's longstanding issues. He emphasized unemployment as the city's most severe crisis, linking it to social unrest and economic decline.

Motiwala urged the government to implement policies promoting industrial growth and investor confidence. He stressed the need for competitive gas and electricity rates to enhance industrial profitability.

KCCI President Jawed Bilwani acknowledged the MBF's ongoing efforts to voice Karachi's concerns at the national level. He called for intensified collective efforts and a unified front to address the city's persistent challenges effectively.