News
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Zardari calls for charter of economy to face economic challenges
* President stresses need for continuation of economic policies despite change of govt
* Calls upon businessmen to recommend solid measures for revival of economy
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday called upon the business community and entrepreneurs to prepare a charter of economy in consultation with all political parties to address the serious economic challenges facing the country.
The president exhorted the country’s business community to form the charter in a non-partisan manner and with consensus ensuring that the economic policies continued uninterrupted and were not reversed with change of the government.
He asked the businessmen and leading entrepreneurs to come forward and recommend solid measures to the government to revive the economy, contain inflation and promote growth and employment generation in the country. Zardari said that challenges were not uncommon and new, adding that all countries had faced challenges. “No outsiders can help us and resolve our problems. We have to help ourselves and find our own answers to meet the challenges facing the country,” he averred.
The president expressed these views during an interactive session with the businessmen and entrepreneurs from all over the country at the Presidency. Over 60 businessmen participated in the meeting that was also attended by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister for Privatisation and Water and Power Naveed Qamar, Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Board of Investment Chairman Salim H Mandviwala, federal secretaries, representatives of chambers of commerce and high officials of the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries.
Briefing newsmen about the meeting, the president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said the meeting was part of the brainstorm session with businessmen on the eve of budget making to ascertain their views and seek recommendations.
The spokesperson said President Zardari, while commenting on the challenges facing the country, said that energy shortage, circular debt, taxation reforms, restructuring of public sector entities and documentation of the economy were among the critical issues of the country’s economy, and asked the business community to help build consensus around these major economic challenges.
The president said the government inherited an ailing economy, which suffered heavy toll due to the war against terror, and the last year’s floods, which alone caused a loss of $10 billion to the economy.
The president told the entrepreneurs that the government had taken the economic challenges head-on and a plan for economic revival had been devised.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk