Federal government should ensure holding of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) elections on schedule and it should thwart all tactics to postpone polls, said Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf, Convenor of Alliance of South Punjab recognised Chambers and trade Association (ASPCTA).
While addressing a Press Conference along with Mian Tanveer Ahmed Shaikh, Mian Anis Ahmed Shaikh, Shaikh Muhammad Farooq and Sheikh Muhammad Saeed here on Friday.
He said," we have invited all the freshly nominated members of FPCCI and the leadership of Businessmen panel who are reaching Multan tomorrow for a meeting in connection with the forthcoming election of FPCCI Managing Committee members from Associations. He claims that the Alliance candidate Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh is enjoying the support of 90 percent voters of FPCCI and we shall sweep the polls with overwhelming majority.
He further said we have formed a Think Tank to evaluate the deprivations constraints, and problems of Southern Punjab and find a feasible solution of these problems. He said "we are not against any one but we are endeavouring for our rights because we were ever neglected during the last four decades".
He further said that Southern Punjab contributes 36 billion in Federal Taxes and we pay more than Faisalabad but government spends less in this area. He said that PIA was earning Rs one billion from international ticketing in Multan and Rs 400 million from domestic ticketing.
While Faisalabad contributes only Rs 400 million in National and international ticketing but Civil Aviation had provided an airport of international standard runway where Airbus and wide bodied aircraft can easily land but this facility in Multan is still awaited.
He expressed concern on the reduction of Lahore-Islamabad flight from 14 to 4 a week and replacing the Boeing 747 with ATR Turbo (having 50 percent less capacity) on Multan Karachi route.