PROFILE

ABOUT GUJRANWALA

Gujranwala is a Famous City situated in the heart of Punjab, between rivers Chenab and Ravi, 5.3 million people, is located at the main Grand Trunk Road connecting with provincial capitals such as Lahore, Peshawar, and also the capital of Pakistan Islamabad. Its fertile soil abundance of sweet underground water and appropriate weather provides an excellent annual yield of three major cash crops (rice, wheat, and sugarcane), thus, it remained of interest to all foreign invaders in the past as it was able to sustain their large armies.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh proclaimed Gujranwala as the capital of his empire before he was strategically forced to shift it to Lahore. Ranjit Singh was ultimately defeated and Gujranwala came under the control of the British Raj when Captain J. Clarke was appointed as its first Deputy Commissioner in 1849. The reaction of the people of Gujranwala to the incident of Jallianwala Bagh was so noteworthy that the British were forced to use air force to control the riots.

The people of Gujranwala also contributed a great deal to independence Movements and notable ones like Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and Din Muhammad (Member of the Boundary Commission at independence) are worth mentioning. In the military services, people like General Qamar Javed Bajwa (Former COAS Pak Army) belonged to Gujranwala. In the field of sports sons of Gujranwala Like Mr. Imran Nazir, Mr. Hassan Ali (Cricket Player) Mr. Khalid Hameed (Hockey Player), have served the nation. Gujranwala is traditionally known as the City of Wrestlers (Pehalwan). Wrestles of international fame like Mr. Goga Pehalwan, Mr. Muhammad Inam Butt, and Mr. Muhammad Bilal, and Weightlifters like Mr. Talha Talib and Mr. Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt are paid off the city. Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan is a Pakistani politician who belongs to Gujranwala and has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since 2008.

ABOUT GCCI

The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1978, as the only trade body representing the Business Community of Gujranwala. It is situated at Divisional Headquarters Gujranwala. Before the establishment of GCCI, the Gujranwala Association of Trade and Industry (GATI) was functioning, which had been watching the business interest of the traders and industrialists of the city. Since its establishment, GCCI is continuing striving hard to provide services to its members in different ways to promote and develop a better business environment, strengthen the manufacturing base and boost exports from Gujranwala. At present GCCI has over 10500 active members both industrialists and traders who belong to almost thirty-four different business sectors.


BUSINESS SECTORS OF GUJRANWALA INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MAJOR SECTORS

Rice & Agro Processing, Cookware & Utensils, Cutlery, Hunting Knives & Swords, Textile & Apparel, Ceramics, Sanitary Fittings, Plastic Products, Pipes & Fittings, Home Appliances (Electric & Gas), Automobile Parts, Heavy Engineering, Metal Processing, Beauty Products & Cosmetics, Rugs & Carpets, Steel Security Equipment, Food & Beverages, Light Engineering, Hardware Items, Chemicals & Detergents, Nylon Rope & Nawar, Real Estate & Construction, Paper & Paper Board, Melamine Products.


KEY FUNCTIONS OF THE GCCI

  • New Markets Exploration by arranging Trade Delegations to International Avenues and Participation in International Exhibitions and Trade Fairs.
  • Provision of the latest information on business and economy to its members for facilitation in business i.e., SMEs and their policies.
  • Interacting with Government/international agencies on micro/macro business issues and other policy matters.
  • Suggestion for Federal Budget Proposals to the Federal Government.
  • Proposals for Trade Policy Proposals to the Federal Government.
  • Performing Advocacy & Lobbying roles in the best interest of the Export Sector of Gujranwala.
  • Arranging meetings to solve issues between stakeholders & Government.
  • Nominations on various boards/committees.
  • Dissemination of Information & Training for capacity building of upcoming entrepreneurs.
  • Social sector services (Health & Education).
  • Arbitration (Business Disputes).
  • Establishing linkages with Academia.
  • Facilitation to members in terms of Visa Applications.
  • Provision of Special Incentives to members through a special arrangement with the Corporate Sector.
  • Provision of Information/Data Research-Based services to its members.
  • Arranging Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, etc.
  • Corporate training programs for Members.
  • Attestation and recommendation letters.
  • Quarterly Publications.
  • Facilitation desks.
  • Trade Directory.