Islamabad: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has instructed the Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO) to ensure that the upcoming nationwide elections for Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations are conducted with transparency and fairness through enhanced monitoring and digitalization.
According to Press Information Department, the directive was issued after the Minister received a briefing from DGTO Bilal Khan Pasha on preparations for the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections. The Government has committed to reinforcing the institutional framework governing trade organizations, ensuring the electoral process meets high standards of transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Recent amendments to the Trade Organizations Act have introduced reforms to strengthen regulatory frameworks and improve trade organizations’ operations. The Ministry of Commerce is supporting the DGTO in modernizing and digitalizing its operations to facilitate Chambers and Trade Associations effectively, during and beyond the elections.
The Minister has directed the establishment of a dedicated elections portal on the Ministry’s website to provide stakeholders with election schedules, laws, rules, notifications, voter lists, and results. A digital dashboard for real-time election monitoring has also been proposed, with trade organizations required to submit election schedules, voter lists, and results digitally.
Emphasizing transparency and equal access to information, the Minister instructed the publication of final voter lists and issuance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure uniform election procedures. Additional human resources have been allocated to the DGTO to support election monitoring, with officers from various government organizations serving as independent observers to enhance transparency.
Coordination with provincial authorities aims to ensure administrative and security support at larger polling venues. Chambers and Trade Associations are encouraged to modernize their internal election management systems to reduce post-election disputes.
DGTO Bilal Khan Pasha informed the Minister that the election process has commenced and will continue until 30 September 2026, with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry elections scheduled from 1 October to 31 December 2026. Around 380 registered trade organizations fall under the DGTO’s regulatory framework, with 320 scheduled to hold elections this year.
The DGTO outlined the election process, including voter list preparation, nomination scrutiny, election commission constitution, polling arrangements, and monitoring mechanisms. Comprehensive arrangements, including trained election observers and enhanced coordination with relevant authorities, aim to strengthen transparency.
Concluding, Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasized neutrality, compliance with the Trade Organizations Act and Rules, and ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections. He extended best wishes to all participants in the 2026-28 trade bodies’ elections, expressing confidence in a peaceful and cooperative electoral process.