Islamabad, June 2, 2026: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on Tuesday expressed support for maintaining the unified status of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) while deliberating on key legislative and policy matters, including amendments to trade and insurance laws.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan.
During discussions on the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, MNA Farooq Sattar highlighted Karachi’s critical role in Pakistan’s economy, noting that the city contributes a substantial share of national revenue and should continue to be represented through a single chamber.
He expressed concern that the establishment of multiple district-level chambers within Karachi could weaken the representative status and effectiveness of KCCI.
Committee members acknowledged Karachi’s economic significance and broadly agreed that the existing structure of KCCI should remain intact. They emphasized that any future amendments should protect Karachi’s unified chamber model while remaining consistent with the broader legal framework governing trade organizations.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce informed the committee that consultations with provincial governments and stakeholders would be necessary before any final decision is taken.
To undertake a detailed review of the proposed legislation, the committee constituted a sub-committee comprising MNAs Muhammad Numan, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Shaista Parvaiz and Asad Alam Niazi.
The sub-committee has been tasked with consulting stakeholders and presenting recommendations on the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2026. It will also examine the proposed Insurance Bill, 2026, and submit its findings to the committee.
The committee adopted the report of its sub-committee on the Life Insurance Nationalization (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Following clause-by-clause consideration, the bill was approved with certain amendments and recommended for passage by the National Assembly.
The committee also discussed Pakistan’s export performance while considering a Calling Attention Notice moved by MNA Aliya Kamran.
Officials from the Ministry of Commerce briefed members on factors affecting export competitiveness, including energy costs, financing constraints, taxation, productivity issues and the overall economic environment.
Committee members stressed the importance of stakeholder consultations and policy measures aimed at increasing exports, promoting value addition and enhancing industrial competitiveness.
After detailed deliberations, the Calling Attention Notice was disposed of by the committee.
The committee also resolved to take up the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during its next meeting.
The session was attended by MNAs Muhammad Numan, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Kiran Haider, Tahira Aurangzeb, Farhan Chishti, Khurshid Ahmad Junejo and Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, while Asad Alam Niazi participated virtually.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Life Insurance Corporation and the National Assembly Secretariat also attended the meeting.
