KARACHI: President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik has said that the most important sector in Pakistan is agriculture and the government should finalise special policy for agricultural products.

The Pakistani embassies should also be obliged to work on modern lines for the consumption of agricultural products abroad and to organise exhibitions of Pakistani agricultural products.

Iftikhar Malik expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Minister for Energy and Industries and chief of United Business Group (UBG) S M Tanveer.

He said the ongoing economic crisis is affecting every class as there has been a shortage of raw materials in the country and factories have started closing down and the poor have become miserable. He said that positive news is coming regarding the IMF agreement after the assurance of financial assistance to Pakistan by friendly countries.

The IMF deal will be done soon, he added.

He said that there is a need to give a clear policy to promote trade relations with all the countries of the region and now is the time to market the potential of Pakistan, instead of selling the assets and should be privatised to make them profitable.

Under public partnership, the implementation strategy should be adopted, the country’s economy should be taken out of the doldrums as well as the process of doing business should be encouraged and accepted.

He said that the duties of leadership of the business community are being carried out by young business leaders in an efficient manner, to improve the national economy.

And for the implementation of economic reforms on modern lines, the suggestions of the new generation of business leaders should also be taken into consideration and the government should take advantage of the skills and suggestions of the young leaders of the business community so that we can compete with developed countries with positive measures.

Tanveer said the government is solving the problems of the business community and decisions will be taken by taking all the stakeholders into confidence in the process of policy making and achieving economic stability in the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023