Pakistan’s business community is the key to progress of the nation. FPCCI should hold veto power over the appointment of commercial counselors at Pakistan’s missions in foreign countries.
This was stated by Mr. Abdullah Hussain Haroon, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations, New York, during a visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Head Office in Karachi on May 7, 2012, where he met leading members of Pakistan’s business community.
While welcoming Mr. Haroon, Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani, President-FPCCI thanked him for visiting the Federation House and holding an interactive meeting with the business community, who had gathered in a large number to participate.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Sherani recounted Pakistan’s history of interaction with the UNO, with particular emphasis on the operations of UNIDO’s work on technical assistance.
In this regard, he said that the UN and its agencies must improve their coordination with the private sector to ensure that the assistance rendered is able to achieve the desired effect. While speaking about Pakistan’s relations with the IMF and World Bank, Mr. Sherani pointed out that the business community believes that tax reforms must be introduced, but this must be done with the cooperation and consultation of the business community. Mr. Tariq Sayeed, Vice President-CACCI stated that the business community of the country was performing well in spite of the extremely trying circumstances that the country was faced with. He requested Mr. Haroon to help re-invigorate the G-77 Chamber of Commerce, or to lobby for the creation of a South-South Chamber, to better articulate the interests of developing countries with one voice.
He also expressed appreciation to the Chinese for their continued interest in Pakistan’s economy and said that 22 business entities from China were due to visit Pakistan shortly to invest in our economy. While responding to the points raised by the President and Mr. Tariq Sayeed, Mr. Haroon stressed the importance of Karachi as the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy, and said that Pakistan’s wellbeing is linked to the wellbeing of the entire world. He said that we are weak in marketing Pakistan.
He stressed that proper marketing of Pakistan was very significant; for instance, he said that he had not been aware of the existence of seven women’s’ chambers of commerce in Pakistan, which was an extremely positive development. He asked the business community to explore alternative energy (in particular, wind power, tidal wave energy and solar energy) earnestly as a solution to the ongoing energy crisis. He was not in favor of bio-fuel alternatives as that will put pressure on the water resources of the country.
He also spoke briefly about the need for tax reform, stating that indirect taxation was not a viable solution to widening the tax base, and that a taxation policy can only work with the existence of honesty among the people. He strongly pleaded with FPCCI to become a member of the ECOSOC. The females should register separately through their chambers.
Mr. Khurram Sayeed, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Alternative Energy of FPCCI appreciated Mr. Haroon’s views on the development of alternative energy and asked him to assist Pakistan in gaining access to funding for renewable energy.
He further said that wind projects can be established by Indian investors on the Indian side of the wind corridor with buyback arrangements with Pakistan, given the financing issues Pakistan is facing. He further said that Iranian investment in the sector should also be encouraged.
