Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has called for allocation of maximum funds in the upcoming budget to overcome shortage of electricity. In its budget proposals, the PIAF Chairman Sohail Lashari said the country's economic revival is only possible if the government takes private sector on board in budget-making exercise.
Energy is the only sector that has taken the entire trade and economy hostage therefore the budget should be focused on energy-related projects, he said. The PIAF chairman also urged the government to give special package to all the industrial estates in the country so that they could be able to establish their own power houses.
The government would have to allocate funds for revival of public sector enterprises (PSEs) that are presently eating up much of the budgeted money, he added. The increase the exports, the PIAF leaders proposed cut in duties on raw materials for export-oriented industry while the appointment of commercial attachés in foreign countries should be linked to promotion of Pakistani merchandise in global market.
He said that high mark-up needs to be brought down to single digit as it would increase industrial productivity on the one hand while help increase local investment in the country. The banking spread that has crossed the figure of seven per cent should also be narrowed down in the larger interests of trade and industry. As the country at the moment is facing a number of external and internal pressures, the PIAF leaders suggested to the government to curtail all non-productive expenditures to the minimum level so that the funds could be utilised for the betterment of people.
He said that the government should also announce austerity drive in the budget and all government functionaries entitled to use official vehicles should be directed to use small vehicles and their fuel consumption limit should also be fixed. As this would help save precious foreign exchange.
Over law and order situation, the PIAF leaders said that there is a dire need to allocate special funds to strengthen intelligence network in the country as the previous happenings have proved that police alone cannot handle any untoward incident. The PIAF Chairman also urged the government to evolve both short-term and long term policies to overcome the shortage of electricity. In this regard, he local businessmen could be asked to make investment in power sector jointly or individually.
As a large number of industrial units have stopped their operations while many are on the way to closure. He said that uninterrupted supply of electricity to the industry would not only increase industrial production but it would also arrest the fast galloping unemployment graph. He said that the government should also announce work on Kalabagh Dam which had been politicised for nothing as it would not only expedite economic activity but would also ensure cheapest electricity on completion.
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