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Pak professionals forum gets rap on the knuckles

DUBAI - Following a warning from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) last month, the Pakistan Professionals Forum (PPF) will now formally carry out its activities as a wing of the Pakistan Association, Dubai.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, PPF Chairman Ahsan Rahim said that a meeting was held with DCCI Director General Obaid Al Tayer yesterday in which it was decided that PPF would stop using the word “forum.”

“The addition of ‘forum’ means that we come under the jurisdiction of DCCI and, therefore, have to register ourselves as a separate entity,” said Mr Rahim.

“At present, we have been and we will continue to carry out our activities as a wing of Pakistan Association,” he added.

The meeting with the DCCI director general was also attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Syed Qaiser Hussain and Pakistani Consul General Amanullah Larik. “All our activities remain the same,” clarified Mr Raheem.

Shafi Samana, President, Pakistan Association Dubai said, “It is a positive decision as both the association and forum have been working together for the benefit of the community and will also continue doing so in future.”

Earlier this month, the association denied that it had asked the PPF to suspend its activities after complaints were made that the PPF was infringing on the work of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC). The association had received a letter from the DCCI stating that the activities of PPF were ‘overlapping’ with those of PBC. The letter was forwarded to PPF, asking them to clarify the issue with DCCI through the association.

The forum that was formed in 1987 has been operating as a wing of the association. Other wings are the Pakistan Association Ladies’ Wing and Chartered Accountants Wing. Various business councils have been formed by the DCCI in Dubai so that it has better coordination and can also promote business activities.

Mr Rahim also said that the forum was formed to promote social, professional and intellectual activities among the Pakistanis in the UAE.

“The forum also acts as a go between Pakistanis and the UAE nationals,” he added.

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