Structural economic reforms: BMP demands public-private dialogue

The Businessmen Panel (BMP) has demanded that Pakistan economy needs public-private dialogue in depth for proper structural reforms as a national economic agenda to improve ease of doing business and financial stability in the country.
While addressing the traders and industrialists at Gujranwala, Chairman BMP Mian Anjum Nisar said that our cost of doing business is increasing day-by-day; the tariffs of gas is much higher in Punjab as compared with KPK and Sindh which is an injustice to the Punjab-based industries.
He said in the last five years Pakistan's exports had been at the verge of destruction; our exports dropped from 25 billion dollars to 19 billions dollars, it is an established fact that the tenure of the former Chief Executive TDAP was bleak for the national economy.
Instead of improving exports, he indulged himself in FPCCI politics. Soon after his removal from the office of CE TDAP, exports of the country have started improving which may close around 22 billion dollars at the end of current financial year.
Anjum Nisar said today the role of FPCCI was practically dysfunctional. FPCCI sitting management was least interested in solving problems of the business community. The Office of FPCCI Balochistan was closed down because there BMP candidate had won the election; the Federation Head office did not provide funds for construction of FPCCI Balochistan office. He said FPCCI lacks a team of good economists to devise due economic suggestions, write ups and sector wise reports.
President Lahore Chamber of Commerce Malik Tahir Javed said, "We always look towards FPCCI being the apex national chambers for support on the issues of the business community which is not available to federating chambers and bodies. FPCCI should play its due role in economic diplomacy in dealing with international chambers and business communities, he suggested".
President Gwadar Chamber of Commerce Mir Naveed Jan Baloch said Gwadar is at developing stage after CPEC but we don't see any business plan from the FPCCI how to strengthen the local businesses, how to help the local chamber to solve their taxation issues. We are disappointed with the performance of FPCCI. If this is FPCCI then we don't need them, Jan Baloch warned.
President Mohmand Agency Chamber of Commerce Qaisar Khan said that FATA has a huge potential for the investors. This region is blessed with natural resources but we are unable to find any concrete assistance and report from the FPCCI to exploit potential of the FATA which we can present to the businessmen on behalf of the national chamber.
President Quetta Chamber of Commerce Ghulam Farooq said for past one year the regional office of the FPCCI has been closed in Quetta, regardless our repeated requests in the Executive Committee meetings for reopening of the office. In the absence of the FPCCI regional office how Balochistan based chambers of commerce can interact with the FPCCI officials. It means FPCCI doesn't want us to be put in the main stream business community.
Senior Vice Chairman BMP and President PBIF Mian Zahid Hussain said we need serious reforms. He asked the local traders and businessmen of Gujranwala how much support they received from the FPCCI during last three years, the answer is no.
Former VP FPCCI Sheikh Mohammad Ali in his welcome speech suggested that the FPCCI should be restructured on the lines of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry. FPCCI liaising has almost disappeared. It should come up with an economic agenda as the problem solver. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he said, was a golden opportunity for Balochistan. The youth belonging to the province could get prominent status in the CPEC by getting education in the fields of science and technology; he added.
Officials of different chambers of commerce from Punjab, senior member of the businessmen panel, Shiekh Aslam, Mahmood Ghaznavi, Javed Siddique, Ahmad Jawad, Mian Usman Zulfiqar, Hina Mansab Khan, Mian Mahmood, Mian Shafqat, Muddassir Masood and others were also present.