The Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President, Iftkhar Ali Malik has appreciated President Asif Ali Zardai for convening roundtable on national issues, saying it would not only create element of national thinking but also give a sense of ownership to the coalition group.
Malik, however, demanded government to also invite other stakeholders like representatives from industry, academia, civil society organisation, media and other opinion leaders. In a statement on Friday, he said that it would be a balanced composition and give strength to the government in taking consensus-based decisions on national issues.
He termed taking all stakeholders into confidence on national issues a need of the hour, which would enhance credibility of the government. He was of the view that there is a dire need to revisit country's foreign policy that should reflect the desires of the nation and in the larger interest of the country and reduce unnecessary foreign intervention in national affairs.
"The policies of the country particularly foreign policy, interior policy, industrial policy, trade policy, and fiscal and monetary policy seem to be working in isolation," he observed and demanded their integration and inter-linking to get maximum benefits from the indigenous resources of the country.
President Saarc CCI said the country is confronted with so many issues such as terrorism, poverty, unemployment, huge fiscal deficit, foreign and domestic debt and liabilities, which invite direct inference to the national issues and pose serious challenge to the country. He proposed formation of a think-tank to suggest ways and means to the government to transform these challenges into opportunities.