ISLAMABAD: Businessmen are key stakeholders in the development of national economy and they should have proper voice in parliament in the form of a business-friendly group to contribute for the formulation of growth-oriented economic policies.
This was emphasised by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zafar Bakhtawari while speaking at a dinner hosted at ICCI. MNA from Vehari, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, MNA from Chitral, Shahzada Iftikhar ud Din, MPA from Alipur Chatha, Akmal Saif Chatha, MPA from Rawalpindi, Raja Hanif, and former ICCI president Munawar Mughal were other prominent guests at the occasion.
Bakhtawari said that private sector is the engine of growth for economy and presence of its group in parliament is crucial to represent the input business community in policy making process. He said parliamentarians should extend their support and cooperation for creation of such a pressure group in lower and upper houses that would provide valuable recommendations to the government for improving the economy.
Speaking at the occasion, Chaudhry assured that government is determined to give major role to private sector for the economic development and would take all measures to facilitate its growth. He said he would try to establish an agro-based industrial estate in Vehari in collaboration with private sector to produce value added agro products. He also thanked ICCI for its support for the establishment of Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industry and assured his full support for its further development.
Iftikhar ud Din said that Chitral provides very peaceful and safe corridor to Western China, Tajikistan and Central Asia and government should give priority focus to connecting Chitral through road and railway links with these countries to start a new era of improved trade with this region. He said government has allocated insufficient funds in the budget for completion of Lawari Tunnel and called for allocation of more funds for early completion of this important project, which will provide easy access and help in generating economic activities in this less developed area.
Mughal said that energy crisis is badly affecting business and economic activities while Chitral River has reportedly the potential to generate 10,000-12,000 megawatts cheap electricity. He stressed that government should accord top priority to exploiting this untapped potential for overcoming energy shortage. staff report