In their latest Economic Reform Feature Service article, CIPE Pakistan Country Director Moin Fudda and Deputy Country Director Hammad Siddiqui look back at the impact of CIPE’s program in Pakistan from the opening of a CIPE field office in 2006. At that time, business associations were ineffective organizations dominated by politics and personal interests. CIPE’s first step was to work with the government in updating it laws concerning associations. The new law, the Trade Organizations Ordinance, brought modern, democratic principles to govern associations.
Following up on the new law, CIPE began working with chambers and associations throughout Pakistan to comply with the new rules and to meet modern professional standards. CIPE helped the boards and management understand their roles and responsibilities in running an association. In addition, CIPE helped build the capacity of associations to work with their members to identify their reform priorities, and to advocate for those reforms to government officials. From CIPE’s assistance, business associations in Pakistan are able to drive real reforms that improve the business climate in Paksitan. Read the rest of this article.
Article at a glance
- Years of political upheaval and the lack of freedom of association in Pakistan has left business associations and chambers of commerce unable to influence economic policy decisions.
- CIPE worked with chambers of commerce and business associations in order to strengthen their ability to advocate on behalf of private sector priorities.
- Although work remains, this program has made a positive increase in the capacity of non-executive staff members and women’s chambers, and in policy reform efforts.
