The Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on Saturday while expressing grave concern over deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi said that it would have far reaching implications for trade and industry all over the country if necessary measures are not taken immediately to ensure peace.
In a statement issued the other day, President MCCI Shahid Naseem Khokhar said that Karachi was trade gateway to Pakistan and its economy is linchpin of national economic growth as it contributes almost two third of the total revenue to the exchequer.
He said that Karachi is the world's 20th largest city and hub of Pakistan's economic activity. The city itself contributes over 80 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Economic activities in Karachi contribute more than $40 billion to Pakistan's total annual GDP.
He said that over 100 killings in Karachi in four days and 1200 killings in only six months during 2011 are an eye opener for the government and it must review all its policies to stop killings in Karachi. "If Karachi continues to bleed, it is not the local investment alone that would destroy but no foreigner would visit this country for business purposes. The president MCCI, who was worried because of recent spate of target killings in Karachi, said that there was a dire need to take immediate actions to control law and order situation in the country.