European countries and USA should provide free access to Pakistani products in their markets and should relax duties to give more access to the Pakistani products as Pakistan is passing through the toughest time of its history due to the flood, which has created large scale damage across the country.
As per estimates, agricultural damages are more than $2.9 billion that include over 700,000 acres of lost cotton crops, 200,000 acres of sugar cane and 200,000 acres of rice, in addition to the loss of over 500,000 tones of stocked wheat, 300,000 acres of animal fodder and the stored grain losses.
Shahid Naseem Khokhar, President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said here on Friday while presiding over a meeting of commerce committee at MCCI. He said that Pakistan is facing serious economic challenges and recent flood has further dented its economy that would take a long time for recovery. Foreign countries along with providing financial and material support to help the flood victims should also provide opportunities to Pakistani exporters to send their products on low duties to support Pakistani in enhancing its exports.
Government on war footing should develop a comprehensive plan for the immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and public-private partnership should be encouraged to come out this difficult phase, said President MCCI. He said that thousands miles of highways, railways network and a large number of building have collapsed causing a loss of billions to the Pakistan's economy and emphasised that international community should provide its complete support to meet these challenges.
Private sector is contributing to mitigate the suffering of the flood victims and government should device a concrete plan for the disbursement of collected funds and undertaking rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. He said that government should provide seeds to the affected farmers free of cost and tax department should also consider waiving off taxes to provide relief to the flood victims.