ISLAMABAD:Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf Thursday lauded the efforts of the business community to promote economic activities and assured his cooperation to resolve their key issues.
The Speaker met with a delegation of businessmen led by Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and discussed a plan for establishing an industrial zone in Chakwal. Waqar Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ICCI former presidents Khalid Iqbal Malik and Zafar Bakhtawari as well as Saif ur Rehman Khan and others were included in the delegation.
Addressing the delegation, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf appreciated the proposal of industrial estate in Chakwal and assured his cooperation and support for this important project. He said that the business community should arrange the land for the industrial zone and the government would cooperate in providing the necessary infrastructure.
He said that the business community was playing a key role in the economic development of the country and the government was determined to promote ease of doing business for them.
He also discussed other matters of mutual interest with the delegation.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, ICCI said that the economy could be brought out of the current challenges only by boosting exports and promoting industrialization.
He said that the government should speed up the work on the industrial zones under CPEC and cooperate with Islamabad and Chakwal Chambers of Commerce for setting up an industrial zone in Chakwal, which would help promote industrial activities and increase exports.
He invited Raja Parvaiz Ashraf to attend an important event of the Chamber as a special guest which would be organized during this month.
Waqar Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that due to its proximity to the twin cities and the airport, Chakwal was the most suitable place for the industrial zone, so the government should fully support the implementation of the project.
He said that the industrial zone in Chakwal would start a new era of development in the area and create lot of jobs for the youth.
Former President ICCI Khalid Iqbal Malik, said that the best solution to Pakistan’s economic problems lied in promoting businesses, exports and investment, so the government should cooperate with the business community in that regard.
He said that the business community was the key stakeholder in the economy and the government should formulate economic policies in consultation with them, which would yield positive results.
Zafar Bakhtawari, Saifur Rahman Khan and others also spoke at the occasion and gave useful suggestions for better promotion of business activities.