Signing of APTTA: government criticised for not taking business community into confidence

Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce MNA Khurram Dastgir said it is very unfortunate that the government did not take the business community into confidence on Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) that is detrimental to economic interests of the country.
Before signing the agreement, it should have been discussed thoroughly in the parliament after seeking the opinion of trade and industry because entire nation is the stakeholder as far as this important Agreement is concerned, he added. The business community reservations on Trade Organisations Ordinance would be removed and their suggestions would be given due consideration, the MNA said and added that both the government and the private sector would have to work hand in hand so that the economy of the country could be back on rails at the earliest. He said that the situation is not as conducive as is being painted by some circles.
The Standing Committee Chairman said the government would have to evolve a solid strategy to ensure jobs to the less educated youth. Corruption is the biggest hurdle in the way of progress and prosperity of the country thus the government would have to introduce culture of transparency in all spheres of life to bring the country out of economic quagmire, he added.
He further said the Commerce Committee of the National Assembly is playing its role by raising its voice for the cause of the business community. The Standing Committee is also working for the development of women entrepreneurs that make more than half of country's total population. He said that all sorts of recommendations to this regard would be given due consideration and their issues would be given priority at all forums, he maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik said it is an age of economic diplomacy and it would have been better if the business community was taken onboard before initiating dialogue with European Union. While citing the example of Swimsuits, Malik said that the EU concession-list contains quite a few items that are not even being manufactured in Pakistan.
He suggested that government should initiate another round of talks with the European Union for getting duty-free access for fresh fruits, vegetables and rice that are best of the best in entire world. He said that the representatives of chambers of commerce and trade associations must be made part of negotiating team to this regard.
Malik said the situation in neighbouring India is quite different, as they mostly engage technocrats and the members of private sector along with their bureaucrats, while taking up business and trade related issues on any international platform. There is no second opinion about it that trade delegations planned by the Ministry of Commerce are really playing important role in enhancing trade relations with trading countries but it is equally important that the representation of the Lahore Chamber should be ensured into these missions, he added.
The LCCI President also suggested that women entrepreneurs who take part in international trade fairs should also be provided TA/DA and hotel residence at subsidised rates, so that more and more women could be encouraged in this connection. The LCCI Senior Vice President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad called for immediate measures to get rid of IMF dictates that always multiply the problems being faced by the country. Optimum utilisation of resources is prerequisite to economic independence, he said.
The FPCCI former President Iftikhar Ali Malik said the business community would continue to play its role for making Pakistan economically strong and an investment destination in true sense of the word. He, however, made it clear that the government would have to ensure conducive business atmosphere so that the business community could be able to do business with peace of mind. He termed the Trade Organisations Ordinance an intervention into the affairs of private sector that is the engine of growth.
MNA Shireen Arshad Khan, who is also Chairperson of LCCI Women Empowerment and Advocacy Forum, paid rich tributes to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) for strengthening the role of women in economic affairs of the country.