KARACHI, June 30, 2025 — The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) has formally approved significant amendments to its Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AO), marking the first major constitutional update in 53 years. The decision was made during a Special General Meeting (SGM) held at ABAD House, chaired by Chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi.
The amendments — aimed at bringing the association in line with current legal and regulatory standards — were approved by majority vote, following extensive discussions among members. Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed, Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz Memon, Southern Region Chairman Ahmad Owais Thanvi, Hyderabad Sub-Region Vice Chairman Abdullah Jan Memon, and several former chairmen including Altaf Tai and Anwar Gagai were present.
Chairman Bakhshi emphasized that the existing Articles had remained unchanged since ABAD’s inception in 1972, despite sweeping changes in Pakistan’s legal landscape. He cited recent instructions from the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), which has directed all longstanding associations to update their constitutions to meet contemporary governance standards.
Key amendments include the removal of the posts of Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman from the association’s official structure, as per DGTO’s objection to Article 1. Under the revised Article 9(iii)(6), sub-committees will now be appointed by the Executive Committee, and their membership has been increased from two to five. Additionally, regional membership applications will still be routed through Regional Committees, but these bodies will now be nominated by the Executive Committee under Article 9(v)(6).
Further revisions were made to Article 8(b)(ii), Article 16(2), and Clause 14 concerning membership transfers. Chairman Bakhshi reiterated that the amendments were necessary to enhance ABAD’s organizational efficiency, ensure compliance with national standards, and strengthen its ability to advocate for members.
“These reforms will enable ABAD to work more closely with government institutions and better represent the interests of the construction sector,” he noted.
Closing the session, Senior Vice Chairman Afzal Hameed thanked members for their participation and support. He called for unity within the association, stating, “ABAD is the sole representative platform for builders and developers — only through collective strength can we influence policy and drive industry progress.”
