"Pakistan is rich in natural resources, with providing basic needs, inputs and utilities to the industries, Pakistan can become 'Asian Tiger' for economic growth and development in the country," said Engr Suhail Bin Rashid, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI). He was addressing to the participants of Senior Management Course of National Management College (NMC), Lahore to FCCI.
He said that textile sector, which is contributing to 60 percent of national exports has suffered worst and needs to be facilitated with uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas. He said that to overcome the acute problem, resources will have to be pooled and projects of hydel and alternative energy resources should be launched for affordable electricity generation and gas exploration in the country.
He said that Pakistan is rich in natural resources, we have 45 per cent of our youth in the age group of 18 to 25 years and it is his core objective, as President FCCI, that top priority focus should be on vocational and technical education to create a 'Skill Pakistan'.
With resolving the problem of energy crisis, not only exports will increase but investment will be getting pace and we will be able to take benefit of EU GSP Plus status likely to be granted to Pakistan from January 2014, where the Government of Pakistan and business community has played a commendable role, he added.
He said that most of international media is portraying negative image of Pakistan by terrorist activities. Due to this negative perception, foreign buyers and investors are reluctant to invest and come to Pakistan for business deals. He called upon the visiting NMC team to project the real and soft image of Pakistan world-wide at every level and wherever they are serving the homeland. He emphasised on 'private-led growth', deregulation of economy, sustained economic policies and business friendly environments for mobilising local as well as foreign direct investment for revival of economy in the country.
He said private sector has its established role as 'engine of growth in the economy and government might limit its role to providing infrastructure support and regulator for health economic growth in the country. He further stated that government should also facilitate the private sector with easy taxation instead of complex system that has been introduced in the recent Federal Budget 2013-14.