Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh has expressed complete solidarity with prominent industrialist and former FPCCI President Mian Muhammad Adrees, saying that the country’s business and industrial community stands firmly with him. Atif Ikram Sheikh said Mian Muhammad Adrees is a respected national figure who has provided valuable services to Pakistan over several decades. He highlighted Adrees’s contributions to industrial development, employment generation, export promotion and welfare activities, describing his role as significant for the country’s business and industrial sectors.
Atif Ikram Sheikh said that facts relating to any matter should be established through the relevant institutions and assessed according to law and available evidence. He said the business community believes that matters involving individuals should be examined through appropriate institutional processes rather than being determined through public speculation. In connection with the matter concerning Mian Muhammad Adrees, he announced the formation of a high level liaison committee representing Pakistan’s business, industrial and trade community.
The newly formed committee will examine the matter and work to bring relevant facts before the public. Former FPCCI Vice President Manzoor-ul-Haq Malik will head the committee, while former FPCCI President Zubair Tufail, Senator Mian Muhammad Atiq and Senator Talha Mahmood will serve as its members. The committee brings together representatives with experience in business and trade affairs as well as parliamentary roles, and is intended to provide a collective platform for the business community to examine the issue.
The development follows a meeting of the FPCCI Executive Committee held on Thursday, during which members unanimously passed a resolution concerning the treatment of Mian Muhammad Adrees. According to the resolution, the matter would be raised through a collective voice representing the business community and pursued before the relevant forums. The decision reflects FPCCI’s position that the issue should be taken up through appropriate channels while allowing the business and industrial community to present its concerns.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh also expressed concern over what he described as unwarranted pressure and media trial involving prominent trade leaders, industrialists and individuals who have played important roles in the national economy. He said such treatment is not acceptable and could have an adverse effect on the dignity and confidence of the business community. According to him, business leaders who have contributed to industrial activity, employment and exports should be dealt with through established legal and institutional procedures.
He further said that the business and industrial community believes in justice, transparency, due process and the rule of law. The FPCCI leadership maintained that the facts of the matter should be established on the basis of evidence and merit through the relevant institutions. The organisation’s position is that a fair and transparent process is important for maintaining confidence among business and industrial stakeholders.
The formation of the liaison committee provides FPCCI and representatives of the wider business community with a mechanism to examine the matter and raise it before relevant forums. The committee, led by Manzoor-ul-Haq Malik and comprising Zubair Tufail, Senator Mian Muhammad Atiq and Senator Talha Mahmood, will represent the business, industrial and trade community in its engagement on the issue.
Atif Ikram Sheikh expressed hope that the matter concerning Mian Muhammad Adrees would be addressed fairly and transparently, with decisions based on facts and merit. He reiterated FPCCI’s support for institutional processes, justice and the rule of law, while maintaining that the business and industrial community should be treated with due respect. The organisation’s latest position comes as its leadership seeks to raise the matter collectively through the appropriate forums.
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