Nayyar Bukhari calls for national consensus on new administrative units, stronger local governance

WNAM REPORT: Former Chairman Senate and senior political leader Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has called for a broad-based national debate and consensus among all provinces and political parties before proceeding with the creation of new administrative units, stressing that such an important decision must be based on consultation, mutual understanding and consensus of all stakeholders.
Speaking during an interactive session at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Friday Syed Nayyar Bukhari said that the concerns raised by ICCI leadership regarding Islamabad’s governance were valid and deserved proper consideration and implementation.
Referring to sealing of buildings, notices and deadlines issued to commercial property owners, he stressed that responsibility should be fixed and CDA officers and staff held accountable wherever negligence or failure to perform duties had contributed to the present situation.
On NFC distribution, he said that since the existing mechanism primarily provided for distribution among provinces, the issue of Islamabad’s share also needed to be taken up and an appropriate solution found.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood in his welcome address emphasized that the business community must be meaningfully involved in the formulation of any new governance structure or policy. He said that businessmen were among the major contributors to the national exchequer and, therefore, deserved an effective role in decision-making. He stressed that businessmen, MNAs, public representatives and other stakeholders should be taken on board to develop workable and sustainable solutions.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood said that CDA’s planning, infrastructure and civic facilities must be aligned with the city’s actual and future requirements. He further raised concerns over the practice of taking broad action against private institutions, businesses and commercial buildings after incidents such as fires, saying that the recent 15-day deadline issued to private plazas for the installation of holistic firefighting equipment demonstrated the need for a strong, practical and transparent framework rather than ad-hoc measures.
Former Minister Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warrich, former State Minister Tasneem Qureshi as well as former MPA Ms. Sania Kamran also shared their views on governance, institutional coordination and issues confronting the business community. They emphasized that the Chamber should maintain stronger engagement with decision-makers, stakeholders and influencers and regularly bring them together to discuss business concerns, with the objective of achieving clear and practical outcomes rather than limiting the process to discussion alone.
ICCI senior member Babar Bhatti highlighted the ICCI role for ease of doing businesses for the benefit of the community as well as the country.
The session was hugely attended by ICCI Executive members as well as the business community representatives.