"Foreigners visiting Karachi are finding it peaceful, safe, and vibrant. This has instilled confidence in them and has resulted in large numbers of foreign visitors attending events, conferences, and exhibitions. I assure not only foreigners but also people from other places of Pakistan to take advantage of the facilities and environment available in Karachi".
This assurance was given by Imran Ismail, Governor of Sindh, while talking to a delegation of Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP) led by its President Majyd Aziz.
The Governor Sindh accepted the request to be Patron-in-Chief of the expected Regional Asia Pacific Local Networks of UN Global Compact Meeting to be held in Karachi in 2019 where over 50 foreign delegates and a large number of Pakistani companies will participate. He further added that the Governor House will provide every possible security and facility to ensure that the foreign delegates leave with a positive image of Karachi.
The Governor further added that all efforts are being made to tackle the four serious civic issues of water, sewerage, solid waste management and transport. He said that he is fully involved in coordinating with the Federal and Sindh Governments in these matters. He also assured the delegation that the Governor House will seek guidance and cooperation of EFP in matters of workers welfare, implementation of labor laws and ways and means to increase employment and industrialize the province.
The Governor appreciated the offer made by one of the delegates to construct one road on the Mehran Highway under a Private-Public Partnership. He also agreed with another delegate that unscrupulous importers are bringing in foreign goods labelled as Made in Pakistan that heavily under-invoiced.
Majyd Aziz, in his presentation, requested the Governor to talk to the Chief Minister to remove all anomalies in the 14 Labor Laws that were passed by the Sindh Assembly. He said that due to inaction in removing the anomalies, the industrial environment and the employer-worker relations are being affected. He said that after the 18th Amendment, EOBI was to be devolved to provinces. However, since no final decision has been taken, the workers and the employers are facing difficulties and long process due to the undecided situation.
Majyd Aziz further said that representatives of EFP Board of Directors must be inducted as Members of all relevant Sindh Government Committees and delegations. He also requested the Governor to declare an education emergency to create a knowledge-based society and a literate workforce. He informed that EFP established the Skill Development Councils and the Workers Bilateral Council of Pakistan more than two decades ago to impart skills and vocational training as well as favorably resolving industrial issues and conflicts through a bilateral social dialogue.
Moreover, Majyd informed the Governor that a concerted national policy is imperative to patronize products made in Pakistan, especially consumer goods. The unbridled imports of non-essential items are detrimental to the industrialization of the country as well as creating a negative impact on the foreign exchange reserves.
He also informed the Governor that the Sindh Government had committed the sponsorship of translating the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Modules into Sindhi language. However, the financial sponsorship is still awaited since last one year. He also requested the Governor to arrange an exclusive meeting of EFP with the Prime Minister when he next visits Karachi.
The delegation consisting of Vice President Zaki Ahmed Khan, Ahsan Ullah Khan, Muhammad Feroz Alam, Khalid Junejo, Humayun Nazir and Secretary General Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, expressed their views on various human resource development, industrial relations and social issues. The delegation also presented the EFP Crest, EFP National Business Agenda 2018-23 and EFP Economic Vision 2030 to Governor Sindh.-PR
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