KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday assured the business community that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was committed to ease of doing business in the country and urged them to help achieve its economic targets.
The prime minister, in a series of meetings with different delegations of Karachi-based business community at the Singh Governor House, emphasised that poverty alleviation was the top priority of the government and sought their help in achieving the goal with active involvement of all the stakeholders.
“I, along with my team, are here to take note of the situation and help address all genuine grievances of the investors and the business community,” he said, reiterating that the national economy could no more be run on obsolete concepts.
Talking to the delegations of representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Pakistan Automotive Parts Manufacturers/Assemblers Association (PAPMAA), he said reforms in the taxation system was also an essential component of the PTI’s economic policy.
The government, he said, was said to be equally focused on advancement of investment, raise in revenue generation, inflation control and to combat associated increase in the cost of living.
The prime minister assured the representatives of local business community that his visit to Karachi was to personally listen to their problems and get them settled for good.
Responding to the suggestions forwarded by the business community, the premier said that an efficient strategy was being evolved to counter smuggling, which was causing massive loss to the country’s industrial sector as well as the economy.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, Federal Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Institutional Reforms Ishrat Hussain, Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Syed Zubair Haider Gilani, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir also accompanied the prime minister.
The FPCCI delegation included SM Munir, Daru Khan Achakzai, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Ghazanfar Bilour, Zubair Tufail, Tariq Haleem, Khalid Tawab and Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir whereas KCCI delegation included Siraj Qasim Teli, Junaid Ismail Makda, Khurram Shahzad, Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooqi, Anjum Nisar, Haroon Aagar, Shamim Ahmed Firpu and Ali GG.
Automotive delegation comprised representatives of Toyota Indus motors, Pak Suzuki motors, Pak Suzuki motors, Hino Pak motors, Isuzu motors, Master motors, Atlas Honda motors and Faw motors.
The delegations unanimously raised the issue of smuggling (inland and otherwise) as a major challenge severely affecting the competitiveness of the Pakistan made and manufactured goods in the national and international markets. They also extensively deliberated upon the issue of taxation and shared with the prime minister their recommendations to enhance revenue generation on sustainable basis. The prime minister directed his team to look into the issues and get them urgently and adequately resolved.
Later, while talking to various delegations representation agriculture, fisheries and pharmaceutical sectors, the prime minister reiterated his government’s commitment to boost the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
He said that government is working to resolve the issues of all sectors. He added that the task force set up for promotion of agriculture is taking comprehensive steps to bring about an agricultural revolution in the country.
“An agreement has been signed with China to promote fisheries industry in the country by utilising latest methods,” the premier told them.
‘CHINA AS AN EXAMPLE’:
Talking to the media after the meeting with businessmen, the premier said, “It is imperative for the traders to come into the tax net to make the country prosper.”
Citing the example of China, he said, “Look at how they have clamped down on corruption and are becoming one of the rising powers in the world.”
He said that government will act as a partner of business community to facilitate it in doing business. “We are taking full steps to increase national income in cooperation with business community,” he said.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction that business community has assured their full cooperation to the government in this regard.
He said that the government inherited a challenging economy after assuming power and steps have been taken to improve its condition.
The premier said that the expenses of federal government have been reduced through austerity and for the first time Pakistan Army has also brought down its expenditures.
He said that government is undertaking economic reforms to strengthen the economy and reforms are being introduced in FBR to increase the performance of tax machinery. He expressed the hope that measures to improve tax system will result in meeting the tax collection target of Rs5,550 billion set in budget 2019-20.
The prime minister said that the country cannot move forward unless the attitude towards tax paying is not changed. He appealed the nation to change its mindset regarding its contribution to national economy. He further said that strict steps are also being taken to stop money laundering and corruption.
Talking about the political situation and the role of the opposition, he said that under no circumstances he would give amnesty to the incarcerated political leaders through a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
Earlier in the day, the premier held a one-on-one meeting with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail upon arrival in the port city.
They discussed the province’s political and security affairs as well as developmental projects. The two agreed that the business community plays an integral role in the uplifting of the economy. “Businessmen must be facilitated,” they maintained.
