The Ministry of Commerce’s Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO) has called for proposals from all registered trade organisations to help create a new regulatory framework for Pakistan’s Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (JCCIs) at the international level, Business Recorder reported.
The request follows directives from the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce during its meeting on September 11, where concerns were raised about bureaucratic hurdles and outdated policies in the current licensing and renewal process for JCCIs.
The committee stressed the need to streamline procedures and align Pakistan’s framework with successful international models to enhance trade facilitation.
The DGTO acknowledged that the Trade Organizations Act, 2013 (TOA 2013) does not specifically address the licensing of foreign or joint chambers. In the absence of a dedicated statutory provision, the DGTO has relied on discretionary powers under Section 3(9) of the TOA, which has led to challenges in verifying applicants and monitoring the performance of existing licensees.
In an effort to create a more transparent and efficient framework, the DGTO has sought recommendations from stakeholders, particularly the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and its member bodies.
The proposals should focus on areas such as legislative reforms, including the addition of a new chapter in the TOA for licensing JCCIs, and developing clear legal criteria for these entities, such as minimum membership and financial requirements.
Additionally, the DGTO has emphasised the need to improve procedural efficiency, proposing mechanisms for reciprocal establishment of chambers in partner countries and the introduction of embassy-based verification processes to replace the existing No Objection Certificate (NOC) requirement.
The DGTO also called for clear timelines for application processing and the appointment of dedicated focal points in relevant government departments.
The role of Pakistan’s foreign missions in facilitating the establishment of JCCIs abroad was also highlighted. The DGTO suggested engaging Trade and Investment Officers (TIOs) to verify foreign partners and advocate for Pakistan’s chambers in their respective countries.
Finally, the DGTO stressed the importance of establishing performance indicators for JCCIs to assess their effectiveness in promoting trade and investment. The proposals should also include standardized documentation requirements for renewing JCCI licenses based on performance benchmarks.
The FPCCI has already begun seeking input from chambers and trade associations across the country, focusing on the same areas outlined by the Senate committee.
