By M Qadeer
LAHORE: PIAF Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar has brushed aside the departure of some people previously associated with his camp, saying their decision came as no surprise and would have little bearing on his group’s performance in the upcoming Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) elections.
“We don’t care who has parted ways with us. We were neither surprised nor caught unprepared because we already knew where they stood,” Nisar said in an interview ahead of the September 23 and 24 LCCI elections.
“The writing was on the wall. Their conduct throughout the campaign had made the situation clear. They were not working with us during the campaign, so their eventual decision was hardly unexpected.”
Nisar, one of the most influential figures in Lahore’s trade-body politics, said his group was concentrating on its candidates, workers and voters instead of spending its energies worrying about political defections.
“People are free to make their choices. We have made ours, and our choice is to work,” he said.
“We have worked hard throughout. We are not Churi khanay walay Majnu — people who want to enjoy the reward without making the effort. We believe that if you want the confidence of the business community, you have to go to traders and industrialists, listen to them and work for their support.”
Do you believe these departures could affect your electoral position?
Mian Anjum Nisar: Not at all. Elections are ultimately decided by voters, not by a few individuals moving from one side to another.
I have spent years in trade and industry politics. Alliances are formed, circumstances change and individuals sometimes change their political positions. That is part of chamber politics.
What matters is your connection with the business community. Our workers have worked, our candidates have worked and we have remained in contact with traders and industrialists across Lahore.
We knew what was happening, so there was no shock for us. Instead of wasting time worrying about who was leaving, we concentrated on strengthening our campaign.
Are you expecting a clean sweep?
Mian Anjum Nisar: With the grace of Almighty Allah, we will give substantially good results.
I believe in working rather than making exaggerated predictions. We have gone into this election with a strong team, and we have selected people who have the capacity to serve trade and industry.
Ultimately, the voters will decide. But judging from our campaign, our interaction with businesses and the response we are receiving, we are confident.
You personally selected many of the candidates. What was your criterion?
Mian Anjum Nisar: My first consideration was very simple: can this person serve the cause of trade and industry?
I did not want candidates merely to fill seats or complete a panel. LCCI represents one of the largest and most diverse business communities in Pakistan. Its Executive Committee should therefore reflect the actual composition of Lahore’s economy.
That is why I personally remained involved in candidate selection.
We looked for the best available people from different parts of Lahore and from different sectors. Manufacturers, importers, exporters, traders, industrialists and service-sector businesses all need representation.
We have included people connected with Sundar Industrial Estate, Daroghawala and major commercial markets. Businesses associated with Hajj and Umrah travel services are represented. The automotive sector, including PAPAM-related businesses, rice, flour mills and FMCG businesses have also been considered.
We have candidates and supporters representing both the corporate and associate classes.
Similarly, Urdu Bazaar, Shah Alam Market, Gulberg and Badami Bagh are among the important commercial areas represented in our broader team.
But there are areas where you have not fielded candidates.
Mian Anjum Nisar: Obviously, you cannot field a candidate from every market and every locality because the number of seats is limited.
We have not specifically fielded candidates from areas such as Allama Iqbal Town, Karim Block and Moon Market, but major stakeholders from these areas are standing with us.
Representation should not simply mean putting a locality’s name against a candidate. The important question is whether the major business sectors and commercial constituencies feel connected with the chamber.
We have made a serious effort to give every significant sector its due.
You have included IT despite describing it as an area outside your traditional expertise. Why?
Mian Anjum Nisar: Because you have to understand where business is going.
I have no hesitation in saying that I do not have the same understanding of IT that someone who has spent his career in technology would have. But IT is the rule of the day.
You cannot run a modern chamber while ignoring technology.
Artificial intelligence, digitalisation, e-commerce and automation are changing business everywhere. LCCI must be compatible with these developments.
Traditional industry remains extremely important, but the chamber must also represent the emerging economy. If we want Lahore’s businesses to remain competitive, we cannot think only about yesterday’s economy.
You frequently talk about government pressure on traders and industrialists. What can a chamber actually do about it?
Mian Anjum Nisar: We can plead their case. We can advocate for them. We can put their problems before the government — and we can do it without fear.
That is the job of a business representative.
Whenever I have met ministers or government officials, I have talked about trade and industry. I have presented the demands and problems of the business community.
I do not go to ministers to praise their mobile phones or tell them how good their conversation is. That is not why the business community sends us there.
If I am sitting before a minister, I should be talking about electricity costs, taxation, regulations, industrial problems, imports, exports and whatever difficulties businesses are facing.
There should be respect for government institutions, but representation cannot mean remaining silent.
Do you believe your opponents have not been sufficiently vocal?
Mian Anjum Nisar: I can say that, in my assessment, our opponents have never spoken with the same boldness on these issues.
People may disagree with me, and they have every right to do so. The voters can look at everyone’s record and decide for themselves.
My record is before the business community.
I have always talked about trade and industry. Whether we are sitting with a minister, an official or another policymaker, my purpose is to present business issues.
You cannot claim to represent traders and industrialists and then become afraid when the time comes to speak for them.
Does that mean you favour confrontation with the government?
Mian Anjum Nisar: No. Bold representation and confrontation are two different things.
We believe in dialogue. We believe in advocacy. We believe problems should be addressed through lawful and institutional channels.
But dialogue has meaning only when you clearly explain your position.
If a government measure is creating genuine problems for traders or industrialists, the chamber should tell the government. If a regulation is impractical, explain why. If taxation is hurting legitimate businesses, present the evidence and seek reform.
You can be respectful and still be firm.
After so many years in business politics, what do you believe LCCI voters expect from their leadership?
Mian Anjum Nisar: They expect accessibility, representation and courage.
Businesspeople do not need representatives only for photographs and functions. They need them when there is a taxation problem, an industrial issue, a regulatory difficulty or a matter involving a government department.
This is why candidate selection matters.
We have tried to bring together people who understand their sectors and can remain connected with the businesses they represent.
The LCCI is a major institution. It has to remain relevant not only to established industries and traditional markets but also to exporters, emerging businesses, technology companies and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Our team reflects that thinking.
Those who wanted to leave have made their decision. We are not looking backwards.
Our attention is on the election, our candidates and the business community. We have worked hard, we have presented a broad-based team and, with the grace of Almighty Allah, I believe we will produce substantially good results.