To further the traditional, commercial, and reciprocal relationship between PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA, the PAKISTAN-SRI LANKA BUSINESS FORUM was launched on February 09, 2005 when Her Excellency, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between PSLBF and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, during her visit to Islamabad. PSLBF has its Headquarters in Karachi and eventually branches would be established in other cities of PAKISTAN.

The aims and objectives of the Forum shall be the encouragement, furtherance, and promotion of business, mutual understanding, and friendly relations between the industrial and business communities of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has in principle agreed to be the partners in Sri Lanka and extend all support, cooperation, and assistance. The Forum shall be non-political, non-profit, and non-partisan.

Membership of the Forum shall be by invitation or by recommendation of a member. One of the proposers or seconders would always be any Founder Member. There would be three categories of members.

• Founder Members:

This category shall comprise of those who have initiated, promoted, and formed the Forum. These members shall also have the privileges and benefits of proposing and/or seconding the application of a potential member. There would be a maximum of 35 Founder Members consisting of 20 from Karachi, 09 from outside Karachi, and 06 among Sri Lankans in Pakistan.

• General Members:

This category shall comprise of authorized agents of Sri Lankan companies and Pakistany entrepreneurs having offices in Sri Lanka or having substantial business and/or trade with Sri Lanka.

• Honorary Members:

The Forum may extend such a status to anyone whose contribution towards the promotion of Pakistan-Sri Lankan investment and trade is exemplary or to those who could be of assistance and support to the benefit of the Forum. The members in this category would not be entitled to stand for election for the Executive Committee. They would be allowed to participate in the General Body meetings.

The applicable annual fee structure would be as follows. This would be reviewed as and when decided by the Executive Committee and approved at the Annual General meetings:

1. Patron-in-Chief/Patron               :           Honorary
2. Founder Member                       :           Rs 03,000
3. General Member                        :           Rs 03,000
4. Honorary Member                      :           Honorary

The Annual subscription shall become due on the first day of January each year irrespective of the date of admission. Any member who fails to pay the subscription on or before the end of March shall automatically cease to be a member of the Forum and shall not be entitled to any privileges of a member.

Every member shall pay a non-refundable admission fee as follows:

1. Patron-in-Chief                           :           Honorary
2. Founder Member                       :           Rs 03,000
3. General Member                        :           Rs 03,000
4. Honorary Member                      :           Honorary

It is the desire of the Executive Committee that your esteemed organization must be a member of this Forum, as the presence of your respected organization would enhance the prestige and effectiveness of this Forum.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, we cordially invite you to become an integral part of this Forum. The attached Membership Form is presented for your consideration. We would appreciate if you would complete the formalities and please intimate the category of membership that best describes your organization’s business relationship with Sri Lanka. You may contact the Secretary-General, Syed Farukh Mazhar, on 0300-200-0818 or for any other information.

We are sanguine that you would respond positively to our invitation so that together, in a synergetic mode, we can achieve the objectives of prosperity, friendship, and excellence in business.

With personal and warm regards.

Sincerely:

MAJYD AZIZ                                                     ABDUL RAUF TABANI          
Founder Chairman                                           Founder President      

SYED FARUKH MAZHAR                               RAFIQ RANGOONWALA
Founder Secretary General                               Founder Treasurer