Business community pins high hopes on caretaker PM

SAARC Chamber's Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik has congratulated former Justice Nasirul Mulkas caretaker Prime Minister and assured that trader community would support the caretaker government's all decisions helping for reviving the economy and holding fair, free and impartial national polls which is the need of the hour.
Iftikhar Ali Malik in a statement on Friday said that now the time has come when businessmen and entrepreneurs will have to change their mindset, adopt modern techniques and focus on infrastructure development and public-private partnership for survival in the 21st century. He said the caretaker government would call a meeting of all stakeholders and draft a proposal after consultation for revival of the economy and in this regard, traders will help the government.
The businessmen should be united and draw up a charter of demand to implement the common agenda pinpointed by experts. He emphasised the need for providing facilities and direction to the businessmen in the search for untapped international markets.
He called for reducing the productivity gap in the industry, business and trade with proper value addition and quality control, which would automatically raise the income of manufacturers, exporters and traders.
He suggested that savings rate of less than 15 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) should be brought to 30 percent. In India and China, the savings rate is more than 35 percent.
"All - the government, corporate sector and common man - should play their part to achieve this and the government should change its preferences," he said.
Malik said despite ups and downs in political arena, the future of democratic political system in Pakistan is bright. He hoped that while amicably performing his responsibilities, the nominated Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk will ensure holding of free, fair and transparent elections in the country. Political stability is pre-requisite for sound national economy and key to success for overall welfare of the poor strata of the society.