Islamabad, 26 August 2011: A delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) which is the apex body representing trade ad industry and mouthpiece of the country’s private sector, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
Those who were present during the meeting Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Dr. Asim Hussain, Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Chairman BOI Mr. Saleem H. Mandviwala, and Federal Secretaries of the relevant divisions.
FPCCI was represented by Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, President of FPCCI, Mr. Tariq Saeed, Vice President of CACCI, Mr. Iftikhar Ali Malik, and Chaudhary Aamar Ata Bajwa.
The meeting was in line with regular interaction of the President with the representatives of the business community and to seek their cooperation and suggestions in stimulating the economic activities in the country and to take necessary steps that are conducive to further promoting business friendly environment in the country.
The President during the meeting thanked the business community for their support to the Government at a critical time when the economic ills inherited by the present Government, the toll of war against militants and the devastations of the natural calamities had multiplied economic woes.
He said that the business community of the country was an invaluable asset of the country and an important vehicle for economic progress for bringing about real socio-economic development of the people of the country.
The President said that a combination of domestic and international factors have, of late, affected the economic activity in the country. However, the Government was taking all possible measures to improve the security situation so that the economic activity could be resumed with full vigor.
He also highlighted various steps taken by the Government in the economic realm such as introducing reforms to put economy on sustainable growth path, protecting poor and extending social protection umbrella to the poorest of the poor through BISP and other programs besides creating job opportunities wherever possible, and protecting the development expenditures for sustaining future growth and poverty alleviation.
The President urged the business community to come forward and suggest out of box proposals to the Government to overcome economic challenges and difficulties. He said that business community of the country taking advantage of important platforms such as FPCCI could help the Government in restoring the confidence of the people in strength and vitality of the economy.
He also called upon FPCCI to play a more active role in articulating problems of business community and safeguarding their interests through continuous engagement with the Government. He said that synergies of public private partnerships and combined efforts promise us the desire objective of ushering a new era of socio-economic prosperity.
The delegation members thanked the President for his regular engagement with the business community and discussed various issues faced by the community in their professional pursuits. They also put forth various suggestions to make economic environment more conducive for the foreign as well as domestic investors. The President assured that the Government was attaching highest priority towards law and order so as to restore confidence of the business community. He also assured the delegation that their suggestions would be duly considered to further facilitate the business community.
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