Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the government to focus on promotion of economic activities in the country as an acute shortage of gas, electricity, political instability and high cost of doing business were coming in the way of achieving economic targets. In a statement issued here, PIAF Chairman Engineer Sohail Lashari said it was very unfortunate that no new dam was built in the country since 1973, while the entire country was in grip of load-shedding for the last many years. He said during this period, India got 100 new dams and its GDP growth is an eye-opener for all.
He said only because of electricity shortage, investment both at local and foreign level, has nose-dived rather a number of existing industrial units have shifted their operations to the other countries. PIAF Chairman said country’s reliance on costly thermal power has jacked up the cost of doing business in the country thus making Pakistani merchandise less attractive in the global marketplace. Engineer Sohail Lashari said enhanced economic activities would help government get rid of bank borrowings and maximum funds would be made available to the business community.