Erstwhile Fata: Speakers urge govt to provide business opportunities in NMDs

Business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has urged upon the government for taking steps for ease of doing business in the province in general and newly merged districts (NMDs) of the erstwhile FATA in particular.

The call was made during a seminar on Roadmap for Economic Development in Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of KP 'Initiatives & Future Plans' jointly organized by Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here Thursday in Archives Hall.

A large number of industrialists and traders including the representatives of the chamber of commerce from various tribal districts and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the seminar.

Besides, Special Assistant to KP CM, Abdul Karim Khan, General Manager (GM) SMEDA, Javed Iqbal Khattak, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), KP Board of Investment and Trade (BoIT), Hassan Daud Butt, Atlas Khan (Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), former president, FPCCI Hajji Ghulam Ali, vice president, FPCCI Qaiser Khan Daudzai, Fazal Elahi, Sartaj Ahmad Khan, Zahir Shah and others addressed the participants of the seminar.

Special Assistant to KP CM, Abdul Karim Khan has urged upon the business community to furnish their proposals and recommendations for inclusion in the KP Industrial Policy 2020-30.

Addressing the participants of the seminar, former president, FPCCI Hajji Ghulam Ali complained of discriminatory attitude with the business community of the province in business related matters.

He was highly appreciative of the performance of SMEDA, but critical of the performance of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and using of delaying tactics in the release of funds from the Export Development Fund (EDF).

He said that though KP has a share of Rs250 million in EDF, but it has not being given its due to share. He said he doesn't doubt good intentions of the government, but reality is that the business community of the province is facing problems.

Hajji Ghulam Ali, who is also general secretary of the ruling Businessman Panel (BMP) in FPCCI urged all public sector organizations to make doing of business easy. So, besides generating employment opportunities, it would also increase our exports. In this connection, he assured full cooperation to government in this regard.

The former Senator also urged upon the business community to cooperate with government in the expansion of the tax net. He further called for cut in the discount rate to lay foundation stone for growth of business activities and generate employment opportunities.

Qaiser Khan Daudzai, Vice President FPCCI while highlighting the role of the apex trade body in the economic development of the country said that federation is the biggest stakeholders of national economic and trade related affairs. He said that KP has big potential of tourism and urged upon the government to take benefit of it.

He called for establishment of at least one industrial estate in each newly merged district to mitigate the problems of the industries in the region. He also called for simplification of investment in energy sector and particularly in hydel sector through provision of facilities and avoid creating of hurdles for them.

GM SMEDA Javed Iqbal Khattak gave detailed briefing to the participants regarding ongoing projects of the authority for economic and industrial development in the province and newly merged districts.

CEO KP Board of Investment and Trade (BoIT), Hassan Daud Butt said that under the new industrial policy various incentives were being offered for the industrial development of the newly merged districts. He said that beside industrial development, the initiative will also generate employment opportunities.

He said that the world is now looking to KP in totally new style. Therefore, he said we should take maximum benefits of the emerging situation.

Director General (DG), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Atlas Khan said that the authority is carrying campaign for creation of awareness in business community regarding international trade and arranging exhibitions and seminars for promotion of exports.