Shaukat for hassle-free business atmosphere

01 Sep, 2004

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday told an Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) delegation that his government would create hassle-free atmosphere for exporters and business community and it would not tolerate any lapse on the part of Central Board of Revenue (CBR) in this regard.
The Prime Minister extended this assurance when one of the delegation members brought to his notice that the CBR was discouraging exporters by creating hurdles in clearance of their shipments.
The member referred to one of his consignments for Afghanistan which he said he had lost when the CBR asked his importer to give details of foreign currency, not allowed under the custom laws.
ICCI President Zubair Malik led the delegation which comprised Javed Khalid, Akram Farid, Shaukat Masood, Mohsin Khalid, Munawar Mughal, Abdul Rauf and Ajmal Baloch.
Sources told Business Recorder that the Prime Minister ordered inquiry into the case.
The Prime Minister agreed to a proposal of the delegation to set up new Islamabad industrial zone to generate more industrial activity in the federal capital.
The delegation was asked to work out detailed working paper for the project for formal approval. The CDA would co-ordinate the ICCI in formulation of the working paper for the proposed zone.
Shaukat told the delegation that future for the housing industry has great potential to expedite economic activities in the country besides giving boost to around 50 downstream industries.
The Prime Minister hoped that boost to housing industry would help the government overcome the issue of employment in a short span of time.
The Prime Minister said that the government would establish laboratories to facilitate export of best quality marble and its finished products.
He also assured all-out facilities for garment sector and attached industries with hopes that this sector would turn government efforts for more exports of readymade garments into a reality.
The Prime Minister accepted the invitation of the delegation for attending an Islamabad-based businessmen convention, as chief guest, to be held at Convention Centre, probably by the end of September.

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