Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), newly elected president, Afan Aziz has said that the priorities have been set for reactivation of business and economic activities, revival sick industrial unit and growth, relief to business community in the province.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that the newly elected Businessmen Forum body would play its integral role for resolution of issues confronting the business community of the province and vowed that they would follow more consistent policies and approaches for amicable address of major issues. Afan Aziz said that the PM-Relief package had given a sign of relief to war-affected economy of the province, and called for further two-year extension.
He informed that a proportion of 11 percent of the total lending of country had extended a 20-year back, but it was curtailed to 1.7 percent. He said there was a need to provide 13 percent as per population of the province, adding that they will negotiate with banks in this regard. "We don't want to beg, but just seek own legitimate right, he maintained. He further said that the banks should bring in its procedural changes. "Our manifesto is "Be Fair, Give Us Our Share", he said.
Welcoming the decrease in interest ratio by SBP, he said the industrial and trade activities will increase after the step and demanded for brining mark-up rate to single digit. He said that the inflation would be declined and economic situation will also improve by such development.
SCCI president, Afan Aziz said that the revival of sick industrial units would be top priority, saying there are more than 595 industrial units were closed due to certain reasons. "We should preserve industrial asset", he maintained. Giving the example of Diwan Suleman industry, he said the unit had been closed for the last four years, if the government should take measures to make it functional, which could provide job opportunities to thousands of workers.
He said the industries are the main source of stability for national economy, but unfortunately, there was not existed any mega unit in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the freight equalisation facility had provided in rest of the world, but there was no precedent in Pakistan, because of depending freight on diesel based trucking system instead of Railway transport.
"We will try to bring mega project in the province, because of which allied industry could be promoted", he added. Referring the Malakand III hydel project, he said that if the government should provide electricity on cheap rate, which could be made possible to run 25 to 30 industrial units in the province. He added that the step would helpful for provision of employment for 35,000 to 45,000 workers.
Afan Aziz said that they would address issues on priority basis confronting the business community in the province. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had allocated Rs 200 million for provision of loans to small traders on easy terms, but the amount didn't disburse to Bank of Khyber (BoK). He urged the provincial government to issue directives to fiancé department for immediate provision of allocated amount to BoK to extend facility to small traders.