Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala and Chairman Businessmen Panel (BMP) Mian Anjum Nisar have jointly announced the formation of the Pakistan Businessmen Alliance (PBA) to contest the forthcoming Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Elections 2027–28 for the president’s position and all other available positions.
The two prominent business leaders announced that the alliance would bring together the Businessmen Group, Businessmen Panel and other like-minded groups and individuals under a common platform, united by their commitment to democratic principles, transparency, fairness and the protection of the legitimate electoral rights of the business community.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, Zubair Motiwala and Mian Anjum Nisar said the formation of the Pakistan Businessmen Alliance had become necessary following recent developments involving the rejection of nomination papers submitted by the Karachi Chamber and other organisations by the FPCCI Secretary General.
They expressed serious concerns over procedural fairness, institutional transparency and the rightful representation of Sindh in the country’s apex trade body.
The leaders said BMG and BMP had decided to join hands and contest the upcoming elections collectively to ensure that no trade organisation was deprived of its legitimate electoral rights. They stressed that the FPCCI electoral process must be conducted strictly in accordance with its governing rules, democratic principles and established provincial rotational arrangements.
Prominent Business Leaders Attend Announcement
The press conference was attended by several prominent business figures and representatives of the business community.
Those present included Vice Chairman BMG Anjum Nisar, Jawed Bilwani and Mian Abrar Ahmed; KCCI President Talat Mahmood, Senior Vice President Aslam Pakhali and Vice President Atif Jamil Ur Rahman.
BMP leaders Haji Ghulam Ali, Zakaria Usman and Nasir Hayat Magoo also attended the event.
Former KCCI presidents Younus Bashir, Abdullah Zaki, Majid Aziz, Iftikhar Vohra, M. Idrees and Junaid Makda were among the participants, alongside prominent business leaders Ghani Usman, Sultan Chawla, Rahim Janoo, Hassan Bakhshi, Suleman Chawla, Faisal Moiz and Sohail Usman, as well as members of the KCCI Executive Committee.
Alliance to Continue Beyond FPCCI Elections
Zubair Motiwala and Mian Anjum Nisar emphasised that the partnership between BMG and BMP would not be limited to the forthcoming FPCCI Elections 2027–28 but would continue as a long-term alliance to address the country’s pressing economic challenges.
They said both groups would work together beyond the electoral process to advocate meaningful economic reforms, promote industrialisation, enhance exports, attract investment, generate employment and resolve longstanding issues confronting the business community.
The leaders observed that Pakistan’s economic challenges required unity, collective wisdom and a coordinated approach. They added that the alliance would provide a stronger and more unified platform to engage with the government and relevant institutions on matters of national economic importance.
They said the broader objective was to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and safeguard the country’s economic interests.
Zubair Motiwala Questions Candidature Over Provincial Representation
Addressing the controversy surrounding a proposed candidature in the context of Sindh’s rotational turn for FPCCI leadership, Zubair Motiwala raised questions about the individual’s alleged electoral and organisational associations with Punjab.
He maintained that documentary evidence relating to the individual’s voting record, previous electoral participation and positions held in Punjab should be examined before any claim of representation from Sindh was accepted.
Motiwala specifically referred to an alleged change in the individual’s electoral record with the Election Commission of Pakistan in October 2025 and called for the relevant documents to be made available for verification.
He questioned how an individual reportedly associated with another province through electoral and organisational affiliations could be presented as representing Sindh when the established rotational arrangement was designed to ensure equitable provincial representation.
He stressed that provincial entitlement should be determined through verifiable records, the originating trade organisation and applicable legal provisions rather than merely an individual’s residential or business address.
Alliance Insists FPCCI Leadership Turn Belongs to Sindh
Motiwala maintained that the previous turn had been allocated to the Federal region and that the forthcoming turn rightfully belonged to Sindh.
He questioned why the established sequence was being disregarded and why there appeared to be urgency in advancing a candidature associated with a different provincial jurisdiction.
“Why should the established rotational arrangement be compromised when the turn belongs to Sindh? If every province is expected to respect the sequence, the same principle must apply equally to everyone. Those who genuinely believe in fairness and transparency should have no difficulty respecting the agreed rotational mechanism,” he asserted.
He emphasised that the rotational arrangement was not merely a formality but an important institutional mechanism intended to protect equitable participation of all provinces in FPCCI leadership.
Any departure from this arrangement, he warned, could undermine the spirit of provincial representation and establish an undesirable precedent for future elections.
Motiwala called upon chambers, trade associations and all stakeholders committed to democratic principles, institutional fairness and transparent electoral practices to unite in defending the rotational system and Sindh’s legitimate representation.
Karachi’s Economic Contribution Cited in Demand for Sindh’s Representation
Highlighting Karachi’s economic importance, Motiwala said the city contributed more than 67 per cent of Pakistan’s national revenue and 54 per cent of its exports.
He argued that Karachi’s contribution to the national economy and Sindh’s legitimate claim under the rotational arrangement could not be overlooked.
“Karachi is a major pillar of Pakistan’s economy, contributing more than 67 percent of national revenue and 54 percent of the country’s exports. Its economic importance and Sindh’s legitimate claim under the rotational arrangement cannot be overlooked. Denying the province its rightful opportunity is not an issue that can be taken lightly. We must stand together to protect our representation and ensure that the principles governing FPCCI’s elections are respected,” he stated.
BMG and BMP Vow to Defend KCCI’s Institutional Rights
Reaffirming their position, Motiwala said the alliance would vigorously defend the institutional rights of KCCI and the legitimate representation of the business community through all available legal and regulatory forums, if required.
He said the recent developments had made it necessary for the two groups to enter the electoral contest rather than remain silent.
“We have reached a point where remaining silent is no longer an option, hence, we decided to contest the forthcoming FPCCI elections,” he added.
The formation of the Pakistan Businessmen Alliance marks a joint electoral initiative by two prominent business groups, with a broader commitment to economic reforms, institutional transparency and provincial representation in Pakistan’s apex trade organisation.