KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has stressed upon the need to have better liaison and consultative process with the Government of Sindh in order to create an enabling, facilitating and business-friendly environment for setting up new industry in Sindh on a large-scale and multi-sectoral basis.

Atif Ikram Sheikh acknowledged that Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of Pakistan People's Party, has recently met the top businessmen from all major industries and sectors to assure them of his support in economic, investment, industry, trade and business development of the province - and, invite them to invest in the province.

He recalled that Chairman PPP and CM Sindh also briefed the business community on the ongoing mega infrastructure development projects in the province during that meeting.

It is pertinent to note that Syeda Tehseen Abidi, Spokesperson of the Government of Sindh (GoS), paid a detailed visit to Federation House on Wednesday to listen to the concerns, issues and recommendations of the business, industry and trade community from platform of the apex body.

Atif Ikram Sheikh recommended that there should be a dedicated working group or committee between GoS and FPCCI to achieve: (i) a sense of ownership and confidence in the business community that the government is easily accessible to them for their genuine issues (ii) swift and efficient communication and redressal of challenges vis-à-vis law & order; infrastructural shortcomings; customs & taxation; labor & regulatory anomalies and traffic & communications obstacles.

Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, proposed that the provincial government should set up 2 - 3 new industrial zones in the various regions of the interior Sindh; and, fully operationalize the existing industrial zones with the basic infrastructure and amenities.

Syeda Tehseen Abidi, Spokesperson of the Government of Sindh, extended her government's and PPP Chairman's resolve to make Sindh the friendliest province for investors, entrepreneurs, professionals, industrialists and exporters.

  She apprised that Chairman PPP, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has recently inaugurated the first completed phase of the Shahrah-e-Bhutto or Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway; and, the GoS is working tirelessly to complete the entire mega project in the coming 3 - 4 months. Spanning approximately 39 km, the expressway connects Korangi Creek Avenue (DHA) to M-9 Motorway near Kathore - significantly reducing the travel time and resources required.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway is one of the largest and significant Public-Private Partnership projects in Sindh, she added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 19 2025

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