Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar admitting the need of taking bold decisions for cutting the cost of doing business has said that the government has to renegotiate with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and LNG providers to bring the energy prices down.
He stressed the need for simultaneous development of industrial and agricultural sectors to put the country on the track of progress and prosperity. However, he said we have to cut down the prices of energy to ensure that our industry and production sector remain competitive in the international market.
Sarwar was speaking at the appreciation awards arranged by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to acknowledge best exporters of rice from Pakistan. He said numerous challenges were facing the country when the present regime took over the reins of power. He claimed that the present government had brought down the current deficit account by 75 percent in the last six months.
Sarwar said that it is unfortunate that such agreements were reached with the IPPs under which they were paid against capacity instead of against utilization. Similarly, he alleged that India was getting LNG from international sources three times less than the price is being paid by Pakistan.
He said the government is committed to resolving the issues of the business community as they are the real engine of growth and not only generate revenues for the country but also create job opportunities.
He said that PTI had promised with the Textile sector to resolve their issues of higher charges of electricity and gasses. He claimed that the issues had been settled amicably in a meeting of the captains of the textile sector with the Prime Minister Imran Khan. Chaudhry Sarwar said that he had always sided with the business community whether he was in Britain or in Pakistan. He disclosed that the basmati rice sector was facing the threat of extra-levy in the UK and foiled the conspiracy to save the market of Pakistani rice in the UK and Europe. However, he regretted that research was not focused on the agriculture sector to produce more potent seed, especially in cotton and rice. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Shahjahan Malik in his address demanded giving electricity and gas at zero rates like being extended to textile sector. He was of the view that it would help to bring down the cost of production.
He said that it was due to research by the private sector that production of coarse variety of rice in Sindh had increased by one million tons in five years.
He stressed the need for working with the same zeal in research to bring similar results for Basmati. He said extra one million tons of production of Basmati would help Pakistan to take its exports to US 5 billion dollars from present US 2.2 billion dollars.
He also urged his peers in the rice sector to focus on branding.
Shahzad Ali Malik, Chairman Founders Group said that rice is the second biggest foreign exchange earner through exports after textile and need similar attention from the government as given to textile.
He said that Iran is a very important market for Pakistani Basmati rice and he thanked Iranian diplomats for attending this event. He also called for focusing on research to introduce new seeds with the potential of higher yields.
Abdur Rahim Janoo, another leader of the Founders Group apprised the governor about the CSR initiatives being carried out by the REAP members in different sectors. Pir Nazim Ali Shah thanked the governor for supporting the rice exporters at every forum.
He claimed that the governor Punjab is truly serving the masses of the province with sincerity and honesty.
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