FPCCI board holds consultative meeting with ex-SBP governor

KARACHI: The Policy Advisory Board (PAB) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce (FPCCI) held a consultative meeting with Dr Ishrat Hussain (Former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Ex-Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan) at the FPCCI head office, Karachi.

The session was co-hosted by Chairman PAB and former Federal Secretary Mohammad Younus Dagha and Sr Vice President Muhammad Suleman Chawla.

The research team of the Policy Advisory Board, along with Dr Usama E Khan, Head of Policy Research Unit, presented various research papers on Macroeconomic Framework, Fiscal and Monetary Policies, International Trade, Investments, and Industries, Taxation Reforms, the Agriculture Sector, and the Energy Sector.

Dr Ishrat Hussain endorsed and appreciated the FPCCI’s initiative in setting up a Policy Advisory Board that provides research-based solutions to economic issues through a team of qualified policy enthusiasts.

He further reiterated the importance of the FPCCI in areas of research and development owing to its access to a vast database of industry-specific statistics that can present accurate and reliable economic analysis, particularly in the context of the trade and industry.

During the highly engaging discourse, Dr Ishrat Hussain offered valuable suggestions to further explore important areas of policy advisory to the benefit of the economy and the business community.

Dr Ishrat was particularly appreciative of the pioneering work being carried out by the Policy Research Unit in the areas of bilateral negotiations in the trade of services with the country’s trading partners and attracting FDI in real sectors.

Dr Ishrat Hussain strongly advised the Policy Advisory Board (PAB) to adopt a bottom-up approach in data gathering and research to leverage its unique advantage of being the apex representative body of trade and industry.

Wrapping up the session, Chairman Policy Advisory Board Mohammad Younus Dagha acknowledged the valuable recommendations and observations made by Dr Ishrat Hussain, with the hope for his continued support and guidance in the future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023