Ahsan Iqbal calls for Export Emergency to boost exports
Ahsan Iqbal said that the biggest challenge for Pakistan is to repay the debt of USD 77 billion in the next 3 years
The 22 percent policy interest rate is a major hurdle for business and investment promotion.
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Secretary General,PML(N) and former Federal Minister for Planning & Development stressed on imposing an export emergency to boost exports and revive the economy. He said that the business community will have to play an active role in promoting exports by visiting foreign countries along with samples of products. He said that in the next 7-8 years, Pakistan will have to take its exports to US$ 100 billion to improve the economy. He said that the government should fully support the business community and remove all the hurdles in business promotion. He said this while addressing the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). Former Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeezur Rahman and former MNA Mian Abdul Manan also accompanied him on the occasion.
Ahsan Iqbal said that the biggest challenge for Pakistan is to repay the debt of USD 77 billion in the next 3 years and a rapid increase in exports is inevitable to discharge this obligation. He said that the countries are focusing on brands for exports and Pakistan also needs to promote its brands for exports promotion. He said that the interest rate should be reduced for the industry. He said that if the PML-N government comes in power, it will remove all obstacles in the way of business and promote ease of doing business in the country.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that all political parties should agree on a charter of economy to ensure long-term economic policies and steer the country out of the current crisis. He said that industrialization is key to strengthening the economy. He said that 22 percent policy interest rate is a major hurdle for business and investment promotion. High energy tariffs led to the high cost of doing business and the government should address these issues to help business growth. He said that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan’s agricultural imports are US$ 8-10, which should be a cause of concern for the government. He said that the Chinese companies should be encouraged to invest in Pakistan with technology transfer. He invited all the political parties to present present their economic manifesto in ICCI, which will improve the confidence of the business community.
Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, Former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan said that 70% of the work on Diamir Bhasha Dam has been completed, while the work on Dasu Dam is also in progress and the completion of these two dams will generate 10,000 MW of cheap electricity. He said that political stability is necessary for economic stability, so everyone has to play a role in this regard. He said that development projects worth 52 billion rupees have been finalized in GB and their completion will lead to better development of the region.
Former MNA of MPL(N) Mian Abdul Manan stressed that all stakeholders have to play a role for economic stability in Pakistan and end the ongoing crisis.
Khalid Iqbal Malik Group Leader ICCI said that the government should make economic policies in consultation with the business community, which will create a conducive environment for business and industrial activities. All loss-making SOEs should be privatized as they are a big burden on the national exchequer.
Zafar Bakhtawari, Former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan said that the enemy is creating an atmosphere of inflation and instability in Pakistan through hybrid war, so we all have to work together to thwart this conspiracy. It is the urgent need of the hour that all the political parties put aside their differences and play their role for the economic stability of Pakistan. The government should focus on hydropower to provide cheap energy to industry.
Anjuman-e-Tajaran Pakistan President Ajmal Baloch, Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh, Akhtar Hussain, Maqsood Tabish and others also expressed their views and emphasized that all political parties and institutions should work together to get Pakistan out of the current economic crisis.
PRA assures to highlight business community issues in parliament
The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) hosted a luncheon in honor of the newly elected Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA), which was also attended by representatives of the National Press Club and Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that parliamentary reporters have an important role in keeping the society informed about the activities of Parliament which is commendable. He said that Pakistan needs business-friendly and long-term economic policies to wriggle out of the current crisis and promote business and investment activities. He said that Bangladesh and many other countries have left Pakistan behind by creating business friendly policies. Bangladesh is trying to increase pharmaceutical exports in the coming days. Due to high utility tariffs, the cost of doing business has increased manifold. The government should revise contracts with IPPs because if they are not revised, people will not be able to pay the electricity bills in the coming days. The people of Pakistan cannot bear the burden of circular debt, which has surged to trillions of rupees. The parliamentary reporters should raise all these issues in the Parliament so that the issues of the business community and the people are addressed.
Usman Khan, President, Parliamentary Reporters Association, thanked ICCI for hosting lunch in their honor and assured that PRA would highlight the issues of the business community through its platform for their redress. He said that PRA will also raise its voice in Parliament for better protection of the interests of the business community so that they can be facilitated in growth of business activities.
Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan showed concerns over the rising political polarization in the country due to which the economy is also suffering. He stressed that the media should play a role to promote unity and end polarization in the nation. He urged that the businessmen should be encouraged as role models in the society as they are playing a vital role in the development of the country. The business community should be given representation at the highest positions of the country to formulate business friendly policies.
Anwar Raza, President, National Press Club said that Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari is working diligently to solve the issues of the business community and he is a torchbearer for the youth. He assured that NPC will play a role in creation of an enabling environment for the business community.
PRA Secretary General Naveed Akbar, RIUJ Secretary General Tariq Virk, Senior Journalist Tariq Sameer, NPC Finance Secretary Nayar Ali, Tariq Chaudhry and others also spoke on the occasion and assured cooperation in highlighting the issues of business community through media for their solution.