PIAF urges govt to involve business community in formulation of policies

LAHORE: Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) newly-elected chairman Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol has urged the government to take business community including PIAF and LCCI onboard, who are the real stakeholders, in preparing policies to sustain economic growth, besides enhancing exports further so that fast widening trade deficit could be diminished, which is prerequisite for the country’s uplift.

Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, while assuming the charge of chairman in an oath-taking ceremony held here today with its PIAF Patron-in-chief Mian Anjum Nisar in the chair and attended by former PIAF Chairmen and LCCI former-presidents, suggested the concerned government departments to join heads with the private sector for finding out a methodology for increasing exports further. Other office-bearers who took the oath included senior vice chairman Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary and vice chairman Raja Adeel Ashfaq.

PIAF leadership as well as several other prominent personalities congratulating the newly-elected office-bearers, hoped that the new body will utilize their best abilities to serve the traders attached to this business.

The PIAF Chairman observed that the international image building is the need of the hour, besides formation of new trade specific export promotion agencies having independent budgets and policies.

While addressing the meeting, Mian Anjum Nisar said that PIAF is playing a significant role in the promotion of trade and industry issues for the last several years which is the main reason for winning the hearts of the business community.

He said though energy shortage and instability kept the economy hostage during the last many years the government should have a clear vision on the economic issues, which would help resolve their problems at the earliest.

Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol stated that the only objective of the PIAF is to provide an enabling atmosphere to the business community so that they could be able to cope with ongoing economic challenges.

He said that an acute shortage of electricity and political uncertainty has damaged the economy beyond repair therefore the government should facilitate the private sector in the larger interests of the country and its people.

He said that business community has prepared recommendations to share with the policy makers to boost economic activities in the country saying the government should implement all their practical proposals without any delay. PIAF understands that the government is moving in the right direction and its seriousness on business issues will yield positive results, he maintained.

Senior vice chairman Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary urged the government that all stakeholders be taken on board while preparing industry-related policies, and asserted that industrial estates be exempted from load shedding of gas and electricity to meet the local market and export targets.

Vice chairman Raja Adeel Ashfaq asked the government to get input from the private sector on policies and encourage public private partnership to stimulate various government organizations. PIAF fully supports the privatization move of loss making public entities but also urge immediate decisions on restructuring or privatization of the steel mills.

Raja Adeel Ashfaq also expressed concerns over undue interference of Social Security Department, EOBI and Labour Departments and pointed out that tax refund claims were unduly delayed. Calling for establishment of more technical institutions, he said existing technical institutions were not competing with the fast growing population of the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022