MULTAN: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday declared that he will advise the government to set up a separate Seraiki Bank and asked businessmen and entrepreneurs from South Punjab to submit a formal proposal for it within a week.
During meeting with businessmen of South Punjab at the Prime Minister House here, the President said the Seraiki Bank will address the financial issues of South Punjab businessmen.
He said the banks in the past have been manipulated for political ends and the government aimed at ensuring a financial system that could not be manipulated against political opponents.
Briefing about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that while discussing economy and overall economic situation, the President said that war on terror and natural calamities had adversely impacted the country's economy.
He said that he has been actively pleading with the international community, the country's case for having more trade opportunities.
The President said that the government was aware that power shortage was among the major issues faced by the business community and industrialists.
He said the government was making all efforts to overcome the power crisis by exploring all possible avenues.
The President reiterated his call to the business community to assist the government in rationalizing and broadening the tax net so as to provide relief to the small businessmen and traders and, simultaneously, to strengthen the economy.
The President said the imprudent reversal of the policies initiated by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a major factor for the present day crisis.
The business community not only needs to assist the government in policy formulation process but should also own the economic policies for ensuring their continuity, he said.
He said South Punjab has a great potential for the export of fruits and the government was making all efforts to facilitate the growers and exporters of fruits especially of mangoes.
He said the government has also planned to establish Mango Pack House and cold storage common facility centres in Multan.
The participants apprised the President about various issues faced by the business community and also put forth their suggestions.
Earlier, a delegation of Ulemas and Mashaikhs from South Punjab also called on the President.
The President called upon them to work for religious harmony and to assist the government in weaning the youth away from falling into the trap of militants.
He called upon them to highlight the real message of their religion which preaches peace, harmony and tolerance.
The President said limited job opportunities in the area and poverty were the main factors that provided militants and extremists an opportunity to mislead the youth and misuse their talent for their nefarious objectives.
He said in order to honour the aspirations of the people of South Punjab for having their own province, the Prime Minister has been asked to start consultative process with all the political parties for making a separate Seraiki province in South Punjab.
The President also urged the ulemas to promote religious harmony and to discourage all notions that divided the population on sectarian or religious basis.
"We are the followers of the religion which preaches peace and mutual co-existence. In fact our diversity of faith and culture is our real beauty," the President remarked.
The Ulemas and Mashaikhs thanked the President for visiting Multan and meeting them.
They assured their full support to the government in the war against militants and in efforts to wean the youth away from falling into the hands of militants.
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