Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro has assured of a rationalised tariff structure coupled with efficient and low-cost utility facilities to bring down the cost of business in Karachi.
Replying to the concerns of the business community, he said that the government was determined to resolve all problems of businessmen on priority basis as they were the real national asset of the country.
He said that all their concerns were being addressed and the government was committed to facilitate them from each and every aspects by ensuring developed infrastructure, transparent and speedy judicial system, foolproof security arrangements and reduction in utility charges, specially in electricity.
This he said while addressing a luncheon meeting at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday.
Appreciating the business community's services and contribution to the economic progress and social development of the country, he said that the community was of prime importance for the government as it played vital role in directing government policies.
The government was giving due weightage to the community in its policy formulation and all trade/business related policies would be made in full consultation with business community for the mutual interest of both government and businessmen, he said.
However, he stressed the need of understanding the fact that the cumulative problems of past several years could not be rectified alone by the government in a short span of time.
In this context, he urged the private sector to come forward and join hands with the government to address the problems collectively.
While assuring full support from the government side he also sought same co-operation from the other side and invited the business community to invest in improving industrial infrastructure facilities and social sector development programmes, specially for the alleviation of poverty.
He urged them to fully participate in government privatisation programme and invest in stock markets.
In reply to a query by Zuber Motiwala, he said that all possible measures were being taken to equip the Gwadar Port with latest facilities and services to make it the hub of maritime activity to generate more revenues, like Dubai.
NFC AND DR QADEER: Replying to the queries of media men he said that the new NFC distribution formula was being evolved with full consensus, keeping in view the considerations of all the provinces. He assured them that the new formula would be just and fair wherein all provinces would get more share than what they used to get in the past.
About Dr Qadeer, he denied that Dr Qadeer and other nuclear scientists' cases would be put in cold storage. Instead, he said, after completion of investigations these cases would be made public.
KCCI President Siraj Kasim Teli observed that to maintain the current momentum of economic growth and to face the fierce competition abroad, particularly after 2004, "we have to remove all constraints and bottlenecks" to bring about a real breakthrough in investment, production and exports. In this respect he said that the rate of income tax and sales tax might continue to be on higher side.
He described the excessive discretionary powers vested in relatively junior officers, non-availability of infrastructure facilities at reasonable prices, specially electricity and water, as the basic retarding factors in doing business in Karachi.
He demanded a befitting status/protocol for the business and industrialist community in the official functions/meetings.
Senior Vice President, KCCI, Mohammad Saeed Shafiq presented the vote of thanks.
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