Exporters playing vital role for economic boost: National Assembly speaker

12 Dec, 2006

The Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain has said that economic activities were picking pace in all sectors of the economy as well as Pakistan has become ideal and attractive country for the foreign investment.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Dry Port Trust here on Monday he added that government was utilising strenuous efforts for removing the hurdles, which were hindering the exports of the country. The private sector especially the exporters were playing a tremendous role in strengthening the national economy through trade and commerce activities, he said.
The Speaker National Assembly stressed upon the Sialkot Dry Port management to establish its office in Gwadar like Karachi Dry Port for ensuring maximum industrial and trade activities in future. He also suggested that along with "Material Items" A " Software development of Export House" should be established for providing opportunities for ensuring participation of poor and able workers involving in all activities. Undoubtedly, the business community of Sialkot was playing a pivotal role not only in enhancing the export volume but also in fulfilling the social responsibilities and its credit goes to Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), he said.
Chaudhry Amir Hussain said that it was very strange that Sialkot Dry Port that was first of its kind in Asia established by the private sector of Sialkot was confronting serious hurdles of revenue department. He directed the dry port management to apply for lease to the concerned authority. Sialkot dry port was catering the needs of the business community of Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala and ensure speedy transportation of export cargo. Chaudhry Amir Hussain assured that full cooperation and support would be extended to the Sialkot dry port management for resolving the issue.
The government was committed to eliminate all hurdles and bureaucratic hindrances for further accelerating the pace of export activities in the country, he said. The Speaker National Assembly said that government was making all out efforts for developing public-private partnership aimed at ensuring strong industrial base in the country. On this occasion he lauded the efforts of business community of Sialkot for undertaking construction of mega project of Sialkot International Airport that was totally financed by the private sector. Chaudhry Amir Hussain said the regular functioning of the airport would open new era of economic development and generate employment opportunities in the area.
In his address of welcome Chairman Sialkot Dry Port Mehboob A. Sheikh said that in order to facilitate exporters the dry port had introduced Express Bonded Cargo Service on daily basis for air cargo for Lahore and Islamabad and twice a week for cargo by sea for Qasim Freight Station Karachi. He said that the fleet of bonded carriers had also been increased to 100 vehicles adding that it is the largest fleet of bounded carriers in private sector and being used for transportation of export cargo from the dry port. Provincial Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, President SCCI Abdul Waheed Sandal, Chairman Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association Professor Safdar Sandal, District Coordination Officer Rizwanullah Baig and large number of businessmen attended the meeting.
Later, talking to a group of businessmen the Speaker National Assembly said that under the present global scenario the exporters and manufacturers should concentrate on diversifying the export and introduce new products for fetching maximum foreign exchange for the country.
He said that government was making strenuous efforts for providing solid base to the industrial sector through extending various incentives and concessions to the business sector in the country. The concept of this programme was to expand strong industrial base and to create wide employment opportunities for the skilled and educated persons, he added.
Chaudhry Amir Hussain stressed upon the business tycoons that they should come forward and set up maximum industries in far-off areas to cope with the unemployment issue in the country.

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