LAHORE: Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman has assured that all concerns of the business community will be removed on priority basis and they will be provided an encouraging business environment.
This was stated by him while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) led by its President Syed Maaz Mahmood which called on him Governor House Lahore on Sunday and discussed with him current economic situation of the country and problems faced by the business community.
The APBF President apprised the Governor Punjab about the issues of the business community and urged for measures for their early resolution.
Balighur Rehman assuring the APBF delegation of resolving their all issues on priority basis said that the incumbent government has steered the country’s economy out of the crisis by making sincere efforts. He said that the country’s economy was showing the signs of stability which bodes well for the development and prosperity of the country.
He said that the strengthening of the country’s economy and promotion of trade and industry were the top priorities of the government.
The Governor that the government was also very much concerned about the trouble faced by the business community and was engaged with the business community on the all trade-related matters through consultation. He appreciated the APBF for its services for the cause of business community. He said that the business community was backbone of the economy and will be facilitated for sustainable economic growth of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood called for introducing soft policies for SMEs including special financing schemes where they can get credit at low markup rates with no collateral requirement on 1-2% markup rate. Moreover, there should be a holiday for all taxes and levies for five years for the newly registered companies, especially SMEs.
He said that the business community was backbone of the economy and was ready to supplement all efforts of the government aimed at economic revival of the country but the government will have to take the business community on board while formulating the trade and industry related policies.
Office bearers of the APBF expressed their hope that the Governor Punjab will play an active role and will act as a bridge between the business community and the government. They said that it would also promote the idea of public-private partnership that is a key to success. They said that the inclusive policies should be formed in consultation with the stakeholders that will help achieve the economic goals.
Balighur Rehman agreed with the proposal of the APBF office-bearers that a Charter of Economy should be signed in the larger interest of the country. They said that the taxpayers should be given respect and honor as they are backbone of the economy and are playing a key role to run the economic affairs of the country.
The APBF President called for taking all steps to ensure a business and investment-friendly environment as it was imperative for economic progress and prosperity of the country.
Pointing out the problems being faced by the trade and industrial sectors, he stressed the need for providing a level-playing field to the business community. The government should also reduce the cost of doing business by ensuring supply of energy at concessional tariff especially for SMEs sector, he added.
Maaz Mahmood observed that in view of achieving economic growth through consistency in policies, the government will have to take solid measures to strengthen the trade and industry, especially the SMEs, saving the livelihood of millions of workers associated with the small businesses. He said that the small and medium enterprises are backbone of the economy and their role was crucial for economic development. He said that major issue of the SMEs is limited access to the financing, which should be increased.
