BMG Chairman Siraj Teli laid to rest

Namaz e Janaza of Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Late Siraj Kassam Teli was held at Masjid e Saheem on Thursday which was attended by thousands of people belonging to all walks including ministers, politicians, KCCI Office Bearers & Managing Committee Members, family members, friends, relatives, prominent business personalities, bureaucrats and a large number of BMGIANs.Late Siraj Teli, who has left behind a widow, a son and a daughter, was laid to rest at Defense Phase 7 Ext. Graveyard. Quran Khuwani for Esal e Sawab of the departed soul will be held on Friday at Masjid e Saheem, Khayaban e Rahat DHA Phase 6 between Maghrib and Isha Prayers.

President KCCI M. Shariq Vohra, while paying homage to Siraj Teli for his matchless contribution and lifelong quest for the rights of business & industrial community and the city of Karachi, said, “Siraj Teli will stay alive in our hearts and will always be remembered for his exceptional and dedicated services to the entire business & industrial community and Karachiites under the policy of Public Service. “Siraj Teli was a dynamic leader whose illustrious career spanning over 28 years has indeed left an indelible impression on the entire business & industrial community. He was instrumental for grooming the business leaders by giving them the opportunity to become President KCCI and always guiding them round the clock on how to deal with issues.”Shariq Vohra also appreciated everyone who expressed their condolences from all over the country and around the world. “We are indebted to everyone for joining us in prayers for the departed soul”, he added.He prayed that may Almighty Allah place the departed soul in Jannat ul Firdous and grant courage to the members of the bereaved family, friends, well-wishers and all BMGIANs to bear this irreparable loss.

Late Siraj Kassam Teli was a distinguished industrialist possessing eminent qualities of leadership. He belonged to a renowned family that has been active in business since the inception of Pakistan. Siraj Teli’s valuable family background has been a great source of strength in enabling him to conduct his life ethically and successfully. As Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Siraj Teli was recognized for his extraordinary leadership of the Business and Industrial community over the past 28 years. He brought about revolutionary and progressive changes in trade politics and in the functioning of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SITE Association of Industry and other platforms of public service and social work. To recognize Siraj Teli’s outstanding contribution to the national economy and public service, the then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari was pleased to confer the award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”. Siraj Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for the industrial development and his endeavor for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular, his aggressive and creative plans to boost export and his contribution to the economic development of the country were indeed creditable and commendable.Siraj Kassam Teli’s unrelenting, sincere and honest efforts have changed the outlook of Trade Politics. As a result, now genuine stakeholders are seen taking part in the affairs of KCCI. His leadership had been instrumental in changing the mindset of the Business Community in such a manner that the Chamber now looks after the general interest of Karachi as a whole and, without any discrimination of cast, color or creed. Late Siraj Kassam Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for industrial development, his endeavors for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular and his contribution to the economic development of the country, were indeed commendable and will always be remembered.

Press Statement: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Pay Orders will be distribute by President Asif Zardari: on 29th Jan: Siraj Kassam Teli

Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group has said that Insha Allah the initial disbursement of Pay Orders will be made by the President of Pakistan , Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on 29th of January 2010 exactly one month after the unfortunate incident and immediately after that this process will continue at Karachi Chamber for all the affected parties till the completion of handing over pay orders to those whose final assessment is below Rs. 1.5 million, said Siraj Teli and the process of making these pay orders has already started in the National Bank as they have received statements and cheques duly signed by the signatories accordingly which is 1437 affected parties and the amount is Rs. 730,227,212.

Karachi Chamber by the Grace of Almighty Allah and as per the commitment has completed the scrutiny and assessment of the losses/claims of the goods/stocks/cash etc. except property/ buildings of the victims of Ashura day of Boulton Market/Light House and vicinity whose claims are below Rs. 1.5 million said Siraj Teli, and the ongoing process of finalizing those, whose amounts are above 1.5 million will be made in a week and Insha Allah they will also get their pay orders as and when their cases are finalized by the Scrutiny Committee.

Karachi Chamber altogether received over 2600 claim forms and after verification it was found that there was a lot of duplication and some were even from the people who were not affected by this incident, therefore the number came down to 1559, this was informed by Siraj Teli, and after the scrutiny of these forms by the Committees of the Managing Committee and Businessmen Group of Karachi Chamber along with representatives of the respective markets, verifying their details under oath with each and every individual concerned decided these cases which was a very hectic and lengthy exercise and consumed over 12 hours on daily basis of 60 businessmen who volunteered and the total staff of Karachi Chamber which is over 100 from the day this incident happened.

Siraj Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group and former President KCCI appreciated the role of the government which started from the day one after the incident i.e. 29th December 2010 when the Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad and the Minister of Interior Mr. Rehman Malik along with Dr. Farooq Sattar and Mr. Raza Haroon visited Karachi Chamber on our request and committed to compensate the affected traders.

In this process of providing relief to the victims the role of the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has been tremendously supportive, said Siraj Teli, by making an Official Committee for the purpose led by Zubair Motiwala and with the majority of the members being from the private sector and Karachi Chamber, and would like to personally thank the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari for providing immediate time for the meeting with us on 30th December and accepting our demand of immediate initial relief of Rs. 3 billion and also the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for announcing of first Rs.One billion as early as 30th of December in the Cabinet Meeting in Gwadar on our request communicated by Rehman Malik, Dr. Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghouri informed Siraj Teli.

The Karachi Chamber is thankful to Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Home Minister of Sindh for visiting personally and after inspection in detail endorsing with 100% satisfaction and trust on the Business & Industrial Community of Karachi, said Siraj Teli and appreciating the fact that such a kind of colossal losses and involvement of thousands of traders in the incident could only be handled by the Businessmen Group of Karachi Chamber. I would like to specially appreciate the support and trust of Federal Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tareen and for providing the funds, said Siraj Teli.

Siraj Kassam Teli appreciates and salutes his colleagues of the Businessmen Group and the staff of Karachi Chamber for the job well done and also the great people of the affected areas, who even after suffering critically have cooperated and came down to their genuine losses under oath and proving once again that the vast majority of the traders are God fearing people and allowing to make this process transparent. The involvement of such a huge number of people in the process made sure that the transparency is maintained for above board finalization of the cases.

In the end, Siraj Kassam Teli wants to ensure the affected people that the rest of the claims will be paid and we have already made separate committee for reconstruction of the buildings as they were on 27th of December and this process will start very soon.

28/12 VICTIMS TO GET RELIEF CHEQUES FROM THIS MONTH; SHOPKEEPERS WILL NOT BE VACATED FROM THEIR OLD PREMISES; KARACHI AFFECTED MARKETS RELIEF COMMITT

First Meeting of Government of Sindh’s constituted “Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee” for the rehabilitation and relief of victims of 28-December, 2009 tragic incident, was held under the Chairmanship of Committee and Advisor to Chief Minsiter Sindh for Investment, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala on January 8, 2010, wherein Chairman Businessmen Group & former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli, District Coordination Officer- City District Government, Javed Hanif, Additional Secretary Finance – Govt of Sindh, Saeed Ahmed Awan, Special Secretary Finance – Govt of Sindh, Najmus Saqib, President-KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, former President-KCCI, A.Q. Khalil and President, All Pakistan Memon Federation, Ahmed Chinoy also participated.

The House condemned and expressed sorrow on the tragic incident and reiterated the intent that the rehabilitation and relief to the victims will be extended on emergency-basis and it would be ensured that payment of claims would start for disbursement from current month. For this purpose, all the victims were asked to submit their claims through the platform of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry by January 20, 2010, afterwards no claim will be received for assessment/ evaluation and processing. It is pertinent to mention that claim forms for City District Government Karachi and other institutions will also be submitted at KCCI where all the data will be amassed and accumulated for scrutiny in the presence of empowered and authorized representatives of the affected markets.

Committee with consensus agreed with the modus operandi suggested by KCCI and decided that after initial assessment of all claims; payments for disbursement to victims will be commenced from current month for claims being scrutinized (analysed/ assessed, evaluated and processed) in all aspects. Committee asked all the victims to submit their claims with entire responsibility and honesty. If any affected shopkeeper, in hesitation, has submitted wrong claim, he will also be given opportunity to correct the already presented claim and resubmit by January 20, 2010. Committee with consensus agreed that all affected markets which are already collapsed and those shall be demolished as declared dangerous by Karachi Building Control Authority will be reconstructed and repaired by City District Government Karachi. Similarly, all shopkeepers, Office and Godown holders in the said buildings, will be provided with same covered area space and they will not be evacuated from the old premise under their use. In this regard, KCCI, representatives of authorized affected markets, construction experts will give recommendations. Subsequently, it is requested to all affectees to extend their complete cooperation to the Committee. The Committee appreciated the decision of City District Government, especially Nazim-Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal whereby they announced for repair of affected buildings by CDGK. Next meeting of the Committee will be held on January 22, 2010.