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The president was addressing an interactive session with the Federation of
Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and all the provincial
chambers of commerce and industry at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
An official statement said that the president had been holding such interactive
meetings with representatives of trade and industry to hear their views on
streamlining the bottlenecks for the overall economic development.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers for Interior Rehman Malik, Water
and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, Industries Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Secretary General
Salman Farouqi besides the secretaries and senior officers of relevant
ministries.
Over 50 representatives of the FPCCI and presidents of all chambers of commerce
and industry led by FPCCI President Sultan Ahmad Chawla participated in the
meeting. About 18 representatives of different branches of trade and industry
made suggestions on a host of issues.
Farhatullah Babar, the spokesperson of the president, briefing the media about
the meeting said that the areas in which specific recommendations were made by
the business community included doubling of exports within next three years,
increasing the inflow of remittances, seeking greater access to foreign markets
instead relying on aid and loans, strengthening public-private partnership,
revisiting the monitoring policy, increasing revenue earnings and reviving the
textile and pharmaceutical sector.
The representatives of the business community also lauded the government for
launching military operation against the militants, which they said was
essential for restoring the confidence of the local and foreign investors.
They also welcomed the decision to have such meetings before the budget so that
the views of the business community were also taken into account during
formulation of budgetary proposals, he said.
President Zardari said that the government had focused attention on access to
markets and early implementation of the Reconstruction Opportunities Zones (ROZs)
so as to create national industry and create job opportunities in remote areas.
He said that the economy had suffered seriously due to war in Afghanistan
against the Soviets and subsequently due to spread of militancy in the country.
The president said that public private-partnership was an essential element of
the government policy. Under this policy the employees and local people will be
made shareholders in the large-scale public sector projects in their areas.
He said that the Alaskan model of development had proved very successful in many
countries and there was no reason why it should not succeed in Pakistan.
The president said that the foreign remittances through banking channels could
be increased by offering incentive and rebates to the remitters in Pakistan
rupee in exchange for dollar. The president said that he would forward the
proposals of the business community to the government for consideration.
Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr Shehla Javed Akram
highlighted the issues faced by the pharmaceutical industry.
President Zardari directed the ministers of health, industry and finance to hold
a meeting with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and submit their
recommendations. |
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