Business Community Important Pillar Of Economy: Shahbaz

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -7th Sept,2016) : Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that business community is an important pillar of economy and no country could move ahead without its due role.

He was addressing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) first-ever Export Trophy Ceremony here. LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder, Vice President Nasir Saeed, former LCCI presidents Mian Anjum Nisar, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Ali Mian, former senior vice-presidents Abdul Basit, Mian Nauman Kabir and Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghous Pasha were prominent among the other participants.

As many as 20 leading exporters were given trophies over their best export performance. The chief minister said that the government was ensuring maximum facilities for the business community and investors.

He said that economy of Pakistan has made considerable improvement due to untiring efforts and policies of the present regime. Shahbaz said that because of good economic indicators, foreign investors are showing keen interest in investment in Pakistan, adding that the government was making the best efforts to strengthen the economy and to promote trade and industry in the country.

He said that a lot of work in energy sector is being done and after completion of the ongoing projects, sufficient energy would be available to trade and business sectors. He said that if same efforts had been made in the past, the economic situation would have been quite encouraging today.

The CM also prayed for early recovery of LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad. LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said though status of zero rated to the five big sectors by the government is a welcome step but engineering, halal products and information technology sectors should also be given zero rated facility so that Pakistan could get its due share in the global trade.

He said that like Federal government, provinces should also give the zero-rate facility to all exports. He said that at present collective volume of global trade is around $33 trillion. Global trade volume of engineering is $7 trillion, halal products $1.

4 trillion, leather products $413 billion, textile and cotton $1.4 trillion, carpet $28.5 billion, surgical instruments $1.1 trillion, sports goods $200 billion, iron & steel $1.2 trillion, and auto parts & vehicle $2.6 trillion.

He said that existing industrial estates are not enough to cater to the need of industrialisation; therefore, the Punjab government should also establish new industrial zones. He said that growth rate should be at least 6 to 7 per cent to create 2 million new job opportunities annually for the youth who are 21 per cent of the total population.

The SVP informed the CM that an LCCI delegation has recently visited Iran and found that there is a lot of potential for Pakistani textile products and meat. He said that this opportunity should be availed to the maximum through joint efforts.

At the end, Shehbaz Sharif gave away trophies to winners. Group Director of Maple Leaf Cement Yahya Hamid received Chief Minister Trophy, Chief Executive of Nisar Spinning Millis Mian Tariq Nisar received LCCI Golden Trophy, CEO of Royal Leather Industries Agha Saidan received Export Compliance Trophy.

Other awarded trophies were: Chief Executive of GFC Fans Muhammad Ilyas, Chief Executive of LUNA ABRASIVI Khadam Hussain, Chief Executive of Power Vision Amjad Wazir, Qaisur Rehman of Kalamkar, Chief Executive of Qudratullah & Co Qudratullah, Chief Executive of Vital Tea Haji Muhammad Yaseen, Chief Executive Officer of Azguard 9 Ltd Mian Ahmed H Sheikh, Proprietor of Sarwar Foods Tariq Mahmood, Director of I2C Mian Salman Arif, Chief Executive of March Denim Abdul Aleem Bhatti, Chief Executive of CCL Pharma Sajidullah Ghuman, Chief Executive of Altech Engineering Mian Muhammad Saeed, Director of Khursheed Textile Hammad Khursheed, Chief Executive Atlas Exports Rana Abdulmanan, Director Finance & Marketing of Ammad Enterprises Ammad Butt, Director Leatherage Muhammad Amir Masood and Ayyaz Ahmed Mlik of Malik Siraj ud Din & Sons Ayyaz Ahmed Malik received Export Brand and Export Performance trophies.