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15th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony to start at Expo Center from April 20th: Siraj Teli

Karachi, March 09, 2018 (PPI-OT): Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) and Former President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Siraj Kassam Teli has announced that preparations were in full swing for staging 15th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2018 in a vivid and lively manner, which will start on 20th April 2018 and conclude on 22nd April 2018 at Karachi Expo Center.

Addressing a press conference at KCCI Auditorium on Friday, BMG Chairman appreciated the overwhelming support by the media extended to the Businessmen Group since its inception in 1998 and also to My Karachi Exhibition since 2004 which has resulted in making this mega event an icon and identity for not just Karachi Chamber and the Businessmen Group but also for all the Karachiites.

“The success of My Karachi exhibition can mainly be attributed to the non-stop support by the media since 2004 who carry out numerous activities at the exhibition which help a lot in effectively promoting this event”, he added.

Vice Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Senior Vice President KCCI Abdul Basit Abdul Razzak, Vice President KCCI Rehan Hanif, Chairman of Special Committee for My Karachi Muhammad Idrees, Former Presidents KCCI Haroon Agar, Abdullah Zaki, Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra and Shamim Ahmed Firpo and along with KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.

Chairman BMG further said, “My Karachi title was particularly chosen for this exhibition as we, the business and industrial community, strongly felt that we have to own this city.” The success of My Karachi title can be gauged from the fact that many people have also started numerous events with a similar title of My Karachi, which was initially introduced by Karachi Chamber in 2004. “We are not opposing them for imitating our title but we warmly welcome all such events because all these events are being held to promote the soft and positive image of Karachi”, he added.

Explaining the reasons behind choosing the theme ‘Oasis of Harmony’ for My Karachi Exhibition, Siraj Teli stated that this theme depicts the diverse, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic population who speak different languages but live in complete harmony across Karachi. The theme also represents the entire business and industrial community of Karachi, starting from a small shopkeeper to leading industrialists, he added.

Siraj Kassam Teli pointed out that Karachi Chamber has been constantly staging My Karachi Exhibition since 2004 when Karachi city was suffering badly due to terrorists’ activities and the law and order situation of Karachi was not so good. Moreover, the foreign media was wrongly portraying any law and order incident occurring in any particular area in such a manner that it gave a negative impression about the entire city.

“To rectify this serious issue, we decided to initiate My Karachi Exhibition and ensured that the business and industrial community, all diplomats, foreign companies and the Karachiites densely participate in this event. With the passage of time, this exhibition has succeeded in gaining nationwide and international recognition as many countries around the world have also been regularly participating in this event.”

“Despite law and order disruptions on many occasions from time to time, we kept organizing My Karachi Exhibition at any cost which has expanded from just three halls in 2004 to all six halls of the Expo Center where more than one million people visit during all three days of the exhibition. Every year, My Karachi keeps growing and improving thanks to the untiring efforts being made by Office Bearers from time to time who try their best to perform better as compared to previous office bearers”, he said, adding that today law and order situation was 90 percent better than what it had been prior to 2013.

He informed that this year’s My Karachi Exhibition will have 315 stalls spread over all six halls of the Expo Center in which foreign delegates from six countries have confirmed their participation so far. “It has become a self-sustainable exhibition and has never been a burden on KCCI. In fact, this exhibition has generated revenue which is directly submitted to chamber’s kitty”, BMG Chairman said, adding that last year’s My Karachi generated a handsome revenue of Rs15 million and this year’s they expect more revenue which will be utilized on the construction of new building in Clifton.

He further said that 15th My Karachi exhibition will also be featuring numerous recreational facilities including kids play area, birds and pet show whereas the outer area of the Expo center, where Food Court is established, will be designed in a unique manner for the entertainment of visitors.

Siraj Teli appreciated the efforts being made by Chairman Special Committee for My Karachi Muhammad Idrees who has been taking new initiatives every year to make this exhibition more attractive for the visiting families. “We ensure equivalent trade and recreational facilities at My Karachi Exhibition where products are offered to the visitors at factory rates”, he added.

He also acknowledged the overwhelming support extended by all three tiers of the government including Federal, Provincial and Local Governments along with the support by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Law Enforcing Agencies particularly Pakistan Rangers Sindh and Sindh Police.

He further commented that Karachi was spread on a massive land of 3,600 square kilometres and holds a population of more than 22.25 million so in such a situation, making it a huge city which was bigger than 80 countries around the world. The city inhabits all types of people and is the financial and industrial hub of the country.

“No matter if any one accepts or not, I always say that Karachi is Pakistan which contributes more than 65 to 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer and we run the entire country yet this city continues to suffer injustices from the politicians and bureaucrats who are responsible for creating all the problems for Karachi. Despite so many odds, Karachi performs very well because of the contribution being made by business and industrial community who are not only generating revenue for the national exchequer to run the entire country but also generously contributing towards massive philanthropic activities in the health, education and other sectors”, Siraj Teli added.

For more information, contact:
Director Press/Electronic Media and Public Relations
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat,
Karachi-74000
Phone: +92-21-99218001-09
Fax: +92-21-99218040
Email: info@kcci.com.pk, secretary@kcci.com.pk
Website: www.kcci.com.pk