President Mamnoon Hussain Monday emphasised the critical role of the business community and entrepreneurs in the ongoing economic turnaround of the country and urged them to step up efforts and complement government’s initiatives to fully exploit the geo-strategic location of the country and availing in a greater way the trade concessions that Pakistan has recently achieved through the GSP plus status. The president said that the duty-free access of the Pakistani goods and products to the European markets besides boosting Pakistan’s exports sector would help create tremendous economic activities and generate employment opportunities in the country.
The president was speaking to a delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) that called on him at the State Guest House in Karachi on Monday.
The FPCCI delegation led by its incumbent President Zubair Ahmed Malik and president-elect Zikriya Usman included the incumbent and recently-elected office-bearers, industrialists and businessmen of the Karachi Stock Exchange.
At the outset of the meeting, the president congratulated the newly-elected office-bearers of the FPCCI and expressed confidence that the new cabinet besides working for the welfare and promotion of the business community, would also continue to contribute in meaningful way to the country’s economic progress and prosperity.
Highlighting the vital role of business community in the country’s development, the president said that entrepreneurs and business community were invaluable asset of the country and any meaningful economic development was not possible without their enterprise, cooperation and active participation in the formulation of economic policies.
Recalling his association with the Karachi business community and the Karachi Stock exchange, the president said he was fully cognizant of the various issues and problems faced by the businessmen. Referring to the robust trade in the Karachi Stock Exchange, the president said that due to corrective measures and policies of the government, economic indicators were showing positive signs and the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors to invest in Pakistan was also being restored.
The meeting later turned into an interactive session where the office-bearers of the FPCCI discussed with the President the various issues and problems of the business community and also suggested certain steps and measures for economic revival of the country.
The president assured that the government was receptive to the invaluable suggestions of the business community and urged them to come forward and share their ideas and suggestions with the government for economic growth and stability.
The delegation thanked the president for meeting and assured that FPCCI would continue making positive contributions towards national economy.