President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain has called for expediting work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects so that the project could be completed during the tenure of CoAS General Raheel Sharif. "Situation is improving in Waziristan agencies, which has led to increased traffic on Pak-Afghan trade corridor linking Indus Highway and the troubled tribal region with Afghanistan's Ring Road," said Mian Zahid Hussain.
He said that security should be enhanced along the trade corridor which was constructed by Army engineers in record time while facilities should be improved to boost trade. He said that peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA was linked to economic development, therefore the government should consider provision of interest-free loans and free of cost advisory services to the business community.
Mian Zahid Hussain also lauded Army Chief for initiating project to spend Rs one billion for renovation of mosques in Waziristan. He also supported the decision to recruit 1000 youth annually from tribal belt in Army. However, he said that recruiting 5000 young men from FATA in Army would be good due to shabby employment and serious border situation.
The veteran business leader also lauded decision to provide free education to FATA students in major cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and demanded similar programmes for other provinces as education is the cheapest and best way to bring people out of poverty.