Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Riaz Ahmed Tata has congratulated Shaukat Aziz on wining both the Attock and Tharparkar seats of the National Assembly by a heavy margin.
The victory in polls has completed the eligibility requirements of Shaukat Aziz for becoming the next prime minister.
The FPCCI president was confident that under Shaukat Aziz the country would make rapid economic progress and development and soon join the economically developed countries of Asia.
Tata said that Shaukat was the architect of the strategic economic and financial reforms implemented during the last four years, which have resulted in turn around of the bankrupt economy and subsequent tremendous improvement in the macroeconomic fundamentals of the country.
He was confident that with Shaukat's financial management acumen and expertise and excellent relations with the international financial institutions, Pakistan would soon experience an era of unprecedented economic progress and prosperity.
The FPCCI president suggested that as a technocrat Shaukat should appoint a competent and dynamic team of ministers who can effectively realise his strategic plan for rapidly transforming Pakistan into a developed economy.
Shaukat would be a rare prime minister who enjoys full support of politicians, armed forces, business sector and international agencies.
Tata assured Shaukat of full support and co-operation of the business community in realising the country's socio-economic goals through promotion of industrialisation and increase in exports.
"It is a historic milestone that democracy has acquired roots in our political system as Muslim League candidate and Prime Minister-designate Shaukat Aziz has won the by-elections with a huge margin."
Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association Chairman M. Yakub Karim hoped that Shaukat would make all-out efforts and utilise his abilities to make Pakistan a modern, progressive and enlightened Islamic welfare state. This is not the victory of one or the other quarter, but triumph of Pakistan and its people.
He said that in the contemporary age only those countries could survive who are economically viable. We can have a honourable place among the nations only when we will become industrially strong and economically strong.
He hoped after assuming the charge of prime minister, Shaukat would attend the burning issues of poverty and deprivation of our countrymen.
Yakub Karim while extending felicitations to Prime Minister-designate Shaukat Aziz and to every one, who took part in the process as well as to all the people of Pakistan, prayed for the integrity, economic prosperity and blissful future of the country.
"May Allah Almighty bestows peace and tranquillity upon our beloved country and the people."
He said that during the tenure as Finance Minister, Shaukat was not in the position to give any relief to soap industry due to economic puzzle, while we are expecting that as a prime minister he would take some concrete steps for soap industry.
Meanwhile, Site Association of Industry (SAI) Chairman Muhammad Nisar Shekhani has also welcomed the victory of Shaukat Aziz from Attock and Tharparkar.
In a message to him, Nisar Shekhani said that the business community is aware of his acumen and the pivotal role he played in bringing the national economy to this robust growth and accomplishing the economic agenda of President General Pervez Musharraf.
His incentive-laden and growth-oriented Budget 2004-05 and the fiscal strength of this country speak volumes of his capabilities and foresightedness. The business community has full confidence in his expertise.
His credentials and rapport with the western countries is an established fact and, as a prime minister, he would be in a better position to negotiate and deal with these governments more favourably, especially for trade and investment.
He said that we all are positive that Pakistan would further progress economically under his stewardship, as the future prime minister.
Our prosperity and progress is possible only through economic emancipation and only then we can take our place with dignity in the comity of respected nations, he added.