President Mamnoon Hussain has urged the business community to take maximum benefit from the government’s investment policies.
Addressing the business community at 2nd Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Achievement Awards ceremony Monday, the president said that the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was making all possible efforts for promoting trade and industry with a focus on attracting local and foreign investment.
Prominent in the cluster of business community were FPCCI president and ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zakaria Usman, former SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and former FPCCI president Tariq Sayeed, FPCCI Senior Vice President Shaukat Ahmed, FPCCI Vice Presidents Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir, Khurram Sayeed, Mian Mahmood Ahmed, Muhammad Adnan Jalil, Munawar Mughal, Naima Ansari, Shaikh Imtiaz Ahmed, Ismail Suttar, Shakeel Ahmed Mukhtar, former FPCCI vice presidents Engr MA Jabbar and Akbar Abdullah and FPCCI Secretary General MA Lodhi.
President Mamnoon Hussain said the government is moving in the right direction on social and economic fronts. Very encouraging indicators appear at the international level as well. He, however, sought suggestions from the business community about, how to effectively maintain law and order as the government realised the value of peace and security for the economic prosperity of the country.
Hussain recounted the achievements of PML-N government and showed his confidence that through better policies and hard work it will succeed in overcoming all the major challenges including energy crisis, and law and order in the country.
Pakistan has a very bright future and by 2050 we will be 18th largest economy in the world, he said with optimism.
The present government has inherited many problems like energy crisis, law and order, and Rs 14,800 billion loans. All these will take some time to settle down. He advised the people to desist from unnecessary criticism of the government and take the ground realities into account.
“The society should discourage and distance itself from the corrupt people,” he stressed.
The president emphasised that economic prosperity and development is not possible without promoting quality education and skill development especially among the female who make more than 50 percent population of the country. The women should walk shoulder-to-shoulder with men in all sectors. But, they should not forget the Islamic values.
He urged the trade bodies especially FPCCI to focus on research and skill development of the manpower. They should set up research centres and develop non-traditional products to catch regional and international markets.
He also emphasised the need for diversification of exports and exploring new markets. He advised the business community to benefit from the government’s policy of “Go to Africa.” He asked them to focus on new potential sectors like Halal foods that have more than three trillion market.
With innovative approach and improving quality of products, we can rightly benefit from GSP-plus facility, he said.
He said that FPCCI’s Achievement Awards have been very much recognised and encourage more companies deliver the best in their fields/ sectors.
Hussain said that every institution should work within constitutional limits and each individual should play his positive role in the nation building.
The solution to Pakistan’s problems lies in following the Constitution and the law. He said the solution to the present political crisis lies in dialogue only and expressed his satisfaction that some people of positive mind are making sincere efforts to resolve the issue amicably.
The president appealed the people to fully support Pakistan Army which is engaged in a war against terrorists. He also appealed them to help the flood hit population and the IDPs.
Earlier, Hussain distributed awards and medals among the best performing traders and industrialists of the country. President FPCCI Zakaria Usman presented FPCCI shield to the president.
GIZ Director Dr Julie Revari, working on promotion of education and skill development in the country under German-Pakistan Training Initiative, spoke of various projects launched in different areas of Pakistan. She emphasised on joint efforts of public and private sectors for skill development. Pakistan has a great workforce and the educated and trained manpower can not only meet the requirement of their country but of regional and international markets as well, she said.
President FPCCI and ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zakaria Usman and former president SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former president FPCCI Tariq Sayeed apprised President Mamnoon Hussain of the problems facing trade and industry here.
Comments are closed.