ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called upon country's private sector to come up with proposals and run the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to turn them around. Addressing the award-distribution ceremony of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce here on Tuesday, Gilani said he has already instructed the finance minister to submit a plan in the Cabinet meeting regarding SOEs.
He said that the best brains should head these organisations and if business community thinks it can do so the government is ready to hand over SOEs to them. However, he said that it is an uphill task to make the loss-making public sector entities profitable.
Gilani said the problems of the country are so formidable that no single political party or individual can solve them and a collective wisdom is required all the times to deal with them. Responding to the demand of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce regarding loadshedding, Gilani said the previous government of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) gave to the country IPPs policy which opened up avenues of foreign investment in the power sector but the subsequent government filed cases against well-known businessmen and sent them to prison. Gilani said he would like to ask the people about those who are trying to destabilise the government. He also asked whether the last government and its predecessor had taken any steps to generate electricity.
The Prime Minister asked the business community members that they should also inquire from the provincial governments about what they have been doing towards resolution of energy crisis because the federal government has empowered them to generate electricity.
Hinting at the PML-N, he said that some people do not want to see the solution of problem of electricity so that they could launch long march against the government. The Prime Minister maintained that law and order situation and political stability were prerequisites for economic stabilisation and his government after coming into power brought various political parties to one platform for political stability in the country. Gilani reiterated that extremists are enemy of the country and religion and the government is committed to defeating them.
Earlier, Syed Asad Mashhadi, former President RCCI said that Pakistan has to face numerous challenges such as energy crisis, depreciation of currency against dollar, and a reduced contribution of Balochistan and KPK to the country's economy. "Pakistan needs to pay attention to its foreign policy regarding trade as the country has already paid $65 billion as the cost of war on terror," he regretted.
He revealed that Pakistan has the potential to earn $35 billion from its exports annually but there is dire need to explore new markets internationally. "There should be proper co-ordination among the ministries while an Advisory Board be established in Prime Minister Secretariat and its members should be from the private sector, preferably from the business community," Asad said.
RCCI President, Javed Akhtar Bhatti said deteriorating law and order situation is a major problem. The cost of production in the industrial sector has increased immensely for the last few years. "The performance of the industrial sector has been adversely affected by the recent decision of two holidays a week," Bhatti observed. He added that the Saarc countries could enhance their mutual trade from the existing 5 percent. "RCCI has recently held a single country exhibition in Bangladesh under the trademark 'Made in Pakistan' which has proved successful," the President added.
He emphasised the need to approve the law for the establishment of special economic zones. In order to enhance textile exports, commercial counsellors should be appointed on the basis of merit. "The textile sector should not be over-burdened with taxes," Bhatti said.
A business university should be set up in the country while a difference of Rs 55 should be maintained between the prices of one litre of petrol and one kg of CNG. A drug regulatory agency should also be established on s priority basis to facilitate pharmaceutical companies, Bhatti emphasised.
Amin Faheem, Federal Minister for Trade said that Pakistan is making strenuous efforts to enhance trade links with the neighbouring countries, especially India. According to him, any policy formulation will require participation of stakeholders. "A meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO) is going to be held in Geneva on November 7 and India has instructed its concerned ambassador to support Pakistan regarding the concession being granted by EU in trade to Pakistan," Faheem revealed. He added that from January I, 2014 Pakistan would get the GSP-Plus status.