Karachi: Baligh-ur-Rehman Governor Punjab said that he effectively relayed recommendations and proposals of FPCCI on federal budget 2022-23 and he is happy that federal government gave due weightage to FPCCI’s apprehensions. 

He particularly referred to waivers on agricultural inputs on FPCCI’s recommendations and maintained that current government is ever-willing to incentivize all sectors of economy in general and export-oriented sectors in particular.  He said his visit to FPCCI is to consult prominent members of business, industry and trade community. He proposed charter of economy to all stakeholders to put an end to political instability, lack of continuity of economic policies, loss of industrial production and exports and to curtail unemployment and poverty. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh President FPCCI said that cost of doing business must be brought down and electricity, gas and petroleum prices are major impediments in business and economic growth of Pakistan.  Business community has nothing to do with politics and they only want continuity and harmony in economic, industrial, trade, fiscal and monetary policies. Suleman Chawla senior Vice President requested Governor Punjab to specifically raise cotton issue with federal government as billions of dollars of precious and scare foreign exchange will be spent to import deficit in domestic cotton production to meet export orders.

He demanded technical and vocational training in Punjab should be aligned with needs of trade and industry.  Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo immediate past President FPCCI expressed his dissatisfaction that present government has given incentives and waivers to only 2-3 sectors while rest of economy is suffering with very alarming ease of doing business environment.  M. A. Jabbar VP FPCCI proposed governor houses may play part as a bridge between federal and provincial governments and business community. Khurram Tariq Sayeed former VP FPCCI said that business community is fighting for renewable energy projects for past 8 years but successive governments have been ignoring much needed wind power projects. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 09 2022

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