Sit-ins inflicting huge losses to economy: Sarwar

Punjab Governor Chaudhary Muahmmad Sarwar said on Sunday that sit-ins were inflicting billions of rupees daily loss to national economy besides hampering the economic growth.

Talking to a high-level delegation of trade leaders from across the country led by Chairman United Businessman Group and VP SAARC chamber of commerce and industry Iftikhar Ali Malik, the governor said that it had caused huge losses to economy besides rendering many workers jobless.

He said, due to sit-ins, the investment-oriented visits of Chinese and Sri Lankan presidents and Amir of Qatar were postponed and Pakistan was deprived of the great opportunity of direct and indirect foreign investment.

He said there were no hard and fast rules in politics worldwide and viable solution to all political differences only rests with holding result-oriented parleys. The governor said that agitations, strikes, violence, protests and sit-ins had never been the answer to any political issues.

He said internationally important political issues were resolved through dialogue among the states. Sarwar argued that Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri in the larger national interest should demonstrate the flexibility for strengthening the democracy in the country.

He said: “we all, irrespective of political affiliations, ought to maintain the dignity of the country by sinking our political differences on priority”.

He said the entire Muslim ummah pinned high hopes on the top leadership of Pakistan. Earlier, Chairman Businessman Group Iftikhar Ali Malik briefed the governor about the concerns of business community on self-styled sit-ins.

He said 60 to 70 per cent business was now down in the country due to so-called sit-ins. He said due to prevailing political situation, exporters miserably failed to honour their export commitments.

The governor assured the delegation that the prime minister and Punjab chief minister attached great importance to the business community and their genuine problems would be resolved on priority basis.

Sarwar congratulated Trade Development Authority Pakistan Chief Executive SM Munir, who is also patron-in-chief of United Business Group, for clean sweep in the annual elections of chamber of commerce and industry across the country.