——Delegates from 10 to 15 countries to participate
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) former president Siraj Kassam Teli has announced that the preparations were in full swing for staging 14th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2016, which will start on 7th April 2017 and will conclude on 9th April 2017 at Karachi Expo Centre.
Addressing a press conference at the KCCI Auditorium on Wednesday, he appreciated the overwhelming support by the media to the event since its inception in 2004 which has resulted in making it an icon for not just the Karachi Chamber and Businessmen Group but also for the Karachiites.
“The success of ‘My Karachi’ exhibition can mainly be attributed to the non-stop support by the media since 2004 which helped a lot in effectively promoting this event”, said Teli, who is a chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG).
BMG Vice Chairman Haroon Farooki, KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, KCCI Senior Vice President Asif Nisar, KCCI Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, My Karachi Special Committee Chairman Muhammad Idrees and the others were also present on the occasion.
“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 BMG chairman said.
The success of ‘My Karachi’ title can be gauged from the fact that many people have also started numerous events with a similar title.
“We are not opposing them for imitating our title but we warmly welcome all such events as well 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 the event, 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 the metropolis, starting from a small shopkeeper to leading industrialists, he added.
Siraj Teli pointed out that the Karachi Chamber has been constantly staging the event since 2004 when Karachi city was suffering badly due to terrorists’ activities and the law and order situation was not so good.
Moreover, the international 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 on organising the event at any cost which has expanded from just three halls in 2004 to all six halls of the Expo Centre where more than one million people visit during all three days of the exhibition”.
He informed that this year’s exhibition will have 280 stalls in which foreign delegates from 10 to 15 countries are expected to participate.
The BMG chairman said that the 14th ‘My Karachi’ exhibition will also be featuring a dedicated flower show; kids play area, birds and pet show and the other recreational facilities whereas the outer area of the Expo centre will be designed in a unique manner for the entertainment of visitors.
Appreciating the overwhelming support extended by the Sindh government, Trade Development Authority and law enforcing agencies particularly Rangers and Sindh Police, Siraj Teli hoped that the newly appointed Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will also extend full support to the exhibition.
Siraj Teli also drew the attention towards delays in the census and said it must be conducted immediately.
On the occasion, prayers were offered for the martyrs of Lahore incident.