Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Commerce Ilyas Bilour has said the US has put the reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in NWFP on the back burner that will have a very negative impact on overall economic scenario of the country. Senator Ilyas Bilour, along with Lieutenant General Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Javaid Ashraf Qazi (Retd), was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Saturday.
He said it was disfavour to Pakistan, as ROZs were specifically designed for earthquake and terrorism-hit areas and the US should review its decision regarding ROZs. The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce Chairman also stressed the need for early initiation of deletion programme in the country to strengthen its industrial base.
He said that a huge amount of foreign exchange was being spent on import of machinery parts. "Had the deletion programme been initiated in the past, the industry at macro level would have been in much better position today." He said that his committee was ready to take up all the business-related issues with the concerned ministries, but for the purpose the LCCI would have to increase its liaison with the Senate committees.
"Interaction with the Senate Standing Committees would ensure early solution of all business-related issues," he added. Speaking on the occasion, Javaid Ashraf Qazi said that a high-powered ministerial delegation from Malaysia was due in the coming days to discuss import of meat and it could be a good opportunity for Pakistan businessmen.
He stressed the need for in increased trade between Pakistan and India, but unfortunately it could not happen during the last six decades. He also said: "We would have to increase our focus on education to enhance international competitiveness." LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry said that recent advancements in defence technology and production in Pakistan were admirable.
"However, what is important is a sort of mutual opening up. The current levels of co-operation must give way to a private sector stake in the initiatives to be taken in the defence production and defence product development programs." He said. Today most of the weapons systems developed and also used by many developing states' armed forces inclusive of Pakistani defence forces were the product of that smooth communication between the defence establishments and the private sector in the developed economic set-up.
"The options available for the two important stakeholders are mutual confidence coupled with a will to develop and remove mistrust. "We need to go hand in hand to develop our indigenous production base to reduce our dependence on foreign sources," he said. The LCCI President said that a long-term planning and policy decision and its implementation in letter and spirit was the only possible way to ensure socio-economic and political independence and dignified survival in the line of nations.
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