Srinagar Nov 21: Abdul Hamid Punjabi was today elected as President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI).
 The chamber declared the results of its recently held executive committee elections at its 77th Adjourned Annual General Meeting at Hotel Grand Mumtaz, here.
 In all 40 candidates had been in the fray for different posts, out of which 19 executive members were elected.
 Punjabi, proprietor of M Sidiq & Sons dealing in handicrafts, was formerly Senior Vice President KCCI.
 Punjabi became executive member of the chamber for the first time in 1980 and his firm had joined the chamber in 1979.
 Pertinently, Punjabi had earlier held different positions including senior vice president and secretary general in the chamber.
 Nazir Ahmad Wani who has been elected as vice President, KCCI is the fifth generation entrepreneur of his family involved in handicrafts business.
 Meanwhile, Dr Gazala Amin, lone female candidate in the election could not make it to the executive committee.
 Pertinently, earlier election of the KCCI was  rescheduled following a dispute over the membership of one of the candidate Nasir Khan who was expelled from KCCI and  disqualified from contesting elections.
 Later a local court had issued notice to President KCCI and its scrutiny committee asking them to allow Khan to participate in the elections as the member of KCCI.
 Although the KCCI had appealed against the decision of the trial court in the High Court of J&K, the parties had later amiably settled the issue and withdrawn the case.
 The elections  to the Executive Committee had been held on  14.11.2011. 600 votes had been cast out of total 771.
 Many members were contesting for the first time.
 Sheikh Ashique, one of the elected members for the first time and Mechanical Engineer said the new body would strive to “further unify the business under one umbrella.”
 “We need to understand that united we stand and divided we fall,” Ashiq who co-partners the popular Alkhuddam  business group told Greater Kashmir. “Kashmir Inc has to do a lot for further progress,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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