News
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Zardari seeks market access for Pak products* President says steps taken to stabilise economy
* Pakistan offers unique opportunities to businessmen, entrepreneurs
ISLAMABAD: Reiterating his call for preferential treatment and greater market access for Pakistani products, President Asif Ali Zardari here on Monday said it is time for international community to think of ways to compensate the countries most adversely impacted by the war on terror by making some allowance to them for market access.
Addressing a gathering at APTMA's annual dinner held at the Presidency, the president said the ongoing war against terror had inflicted huge damage to Pakistan's economy.
On account of the sacrifices and suffering on behalf of the international community in the war against terror, Pakistan is entitled to preferential treatment and greater market access, the President added.
President Zardari said that tremendous cost of the war against terror had put a great stress on Pakistan's economy.
He said huge economic cost of the war compelled the government to curtail its Public Sector Development Programme leading towards putting a great pressure on the business community by increasing their input costs and adversely impacting their competitiveness.
The president said international aid was welcome but in Pakistan's case, trade was more sustainable as it helps integrate people and cultures across borders. Trade, he continued, also helps in removing the negative perceptions of developed countries that the militants propagate.
The president said that the principle reason for decline in Pakistan's export earnings was due to its increasingly becoming non-competitive.
Pakistan's position in the world of textile market which is the symbol of Pakistan's manufacturing excellence was being adversely impacted and it was being reduced from major suppliers to back up suppliers, the president remarked.
While urging the international community to urgently help the country in getting more trade opportunities, the President said, "We have asked the US and European Union countries to give us market access as greater market access will create employment opportunities and will wean away the frustrated jobless youth from joining the extremists and militants."
The president said increase in the level of poverty in the country had serious implications both for Pakistan and the international community.
Zardari also recounted various steps taken to stabilise economy. He said the government has adopted the policy of public-private partnership, as this was important for the rapid development of the country. The president said Pakistan offered equal incentives and facilities to local and foreign entrepreneurs. He said a one-window operation facility was provided to overcome bureaucratic delays in investment. "We have offered free trade zone facilities."
The goods produced in these zones can be freely exported to the regional markets. Such trade free zones will also have dedicated power facilities, the President continued.
The president said Pakistan offered unique opportunities to business community and entrepreneurs, both national and from other countries. Pakistan's strategic location, the President said, enables them to serve the market of over two billion people in China, India and Central Asia. The president also distributed awards among the APTMA members. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk