The leader of Businessmen Forum, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour came down hard against the commercial banks for keeping very low-lending ratio in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, saying that it was totally unjust with war-affected businessmen community, wherein the banks are surging its deposits but not increasing lending as per ratio from deposits to advances in the province.
He also said the present interest rates are also very high making difficulties to revive post-militancy and terrorism businesses and economic activities. Addressing at the general body meeting of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here at the chamber house, he said that it was great challenge to continue businesses under the present circumstances in the province. He, however, said the businessmen community has much resilient, who's confronting situation direly and played pivotal role in economic development of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting attended by the SCCI outgoing president, Afan Aziz, newly-elected president Dr Muhammad Yousaf Sarwar, other members of his cabinet, leaders and representatives of trade bodies, industrialists, and businessmen. Senator Ilyas Bilour said the situation is still not favourable for businesses due to persistence terrorism and uncertain environment, adding that banks' attitude is further manoeuvring situation towards businesses. He further said the current State Bank of Pakistan's interest rate is also not supportive to businessmen community, particularly hailing from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which should be further specifically reduced of this province.
Referring the Prime Minister Fiscal Relief Package, he said that the facility had extended to terrorism hit businessmen community for three years, which was ended in June this year. He added the businessmen community got greater relief from the package, stressed that the facility should be extended for further two years as businesses are still under immense threats of terrorism.
The Businessmen Forum leader informed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government also assured the businessmen community that it will do everything and support to get further two years' extension in the package. Senator Ilyas Bilour said the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province is fully right on its indigenous resources, saying that if it didn't provide legitimate rights, then situation could be emerged like Bolachistan in the province. Endorsing the present government achievements and initiatives, he said that it has done a lot of work for development and progress in the country, specially providing relief to people at their doorstep which was not seen in successive governments in the past. Earlier, addressing at the meeting the newly-elected SCCI president Dr Muhammad Yousaf Sarwar said that it was a challenging job for him, but he expressed the hope that he would come up with expectation of his leaders and businessmen community. He observed that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa businessmen community is being facing immense challenges, like load shedding, lawlessness, kidnapping for ransom, uncertain situation and terrorism.
Nevertheless, he said, he will take businessmen community on board to address all those issues on priority, which could provide speedy relief and support to the war-affected businesses of the province. "I will do everything possible to get instance relief and target set in my tenure", he assured. He said he will give maximum priority to enhance trade relations with neighbouring and Islamic countries by taking on businessmen community on board, and it will also discuss issues with diplomatic missions for removal of hindrance in way of trade and economic relations with different countries around the World.
The SCCI outgoing president, Afan Aziz presented annual performance report 2011-12, and informed on the occasion that they had taken number of steps for resolution of businessmen community issues and improving trade relations with foreign countries. During the general body meeting, the participants unanimously endorsed the annual performance report 2011-12 and expressed full confidence over the newly-elected cabinet of the chamber under the leadership of Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour.
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