Vice President (VP) Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Riaz Khattak has welcomed the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and paid tribute to the outgoing Raheel Sharif for his marvellous services.

Talking to media persons on Tuesday, Riaz Khattak said it was the finest day in the country where change in command was held gracefully and the Gen Bajwa assumed his new responsibilities;  “I wish him best of luck and expect that he will continue with the same zeal Raheel Sharif had,” he added.

Khattak said the outgoing chief done remarkable services especially eliminating the terrorism from this soil including starting the Karachi operation with the approval of the government; we also expect that Karachi operation shall be continued on the same pace till the final conclusion so that economic hub would be restore properly which was very much required to enhance the country’s economic growth.

He expressed his pleasure that Pakistan is much safer and stronger than 2013 after initiating operation Zarb-e-Azb and FPCCI has always stood behind with the government and armed forces to restore the peace and prosperity.

Regional Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee, Ahmad Jawad said we have got yet another professional person to serve Pakistan Army in the name of Gen Qamar Bajwa. I congratulate him on assuming his new and important reasonability.

He also said on another side an opportunity may arise for a diplomatic initiative between India and Pakistan.

Though Sartaj Aziz, will be in India next week, the first high-level visit from Pakistan in months to attend heart of Asia Conference. Since foreign minister Sushma Swaraj is indisposed, he is likely to meet only the two ministers of state, V K Singh and M J Akbar, and the foreign secretary.

While little more than a courtesy meeting between Aziz and PM Narendra Modi is envisaged, a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval could signal intent to break the ice and might be India could realize its violation on LOC, Jawad added.