The vice president of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iftikhar Ali, on Sunday said that deteriorating situation coupled with energy shortages can drag economy down. He said that mere assurances to lift gas supply suspension can not help sooth feelings of enraged business community which has expressed its feelings in Lahore under the banner of LCCI.
"Government should revisit priorities to ensure equal distribution of gas through to calm the business community who are concerned about their future," the veteran business leader said.
Acting group chairman businessman panel, he said this while talking to a delegation of business community at his residence.
The delegation included chairman media FPCCI Sohail Husain , President of Women's Chamber of Commerce Samina Fazil, President of Attock CCI Tariq Mahmood, Sagheer, Shakil Dhingra, Haroon Rashid, Anwar Sheikh, Rehmatullah Jaweed and others.
Iftikhar said that the situation can fan localism and take an ugly turn, and added that a planned long march by business community towards Islamabad will compound uncertainty.
He said that gas supply suspension has left thousands of businesses closed and millions jobless. "How will they pay mark-up on bank loans if they are not generating funds?" he questioned.
The issue of interest on loans should be resolved, lest it results in more closures and add billions to the defaults of banks that are already facing record non-performing loans, he warned.
He said that economy is under tremendous pressure due to lack of attention, mismanagement, pressure on rupee and foreign payments, enhanced imports, reduced exports, and alarming reduction in foreign investment.
The situation has left industry unable to think of competing with neighbouring nations enjoying enabling policies, he added.
He said that he is meeting with the Chairman of FBR on Tuesday to hammer out certain issued haunting the business community.
He said that government should see protests as an opportunity to resolve issues of business community so that economy can prosper. We should interact and discuss policy and regulatory issues affecting business environment, he underlined.
He said that businesses have suffered loss of over Rs 200 billion in Punjab alone making it a calamity-hit area. All major political parties including government's coalition partners are also admitting energy crisis but concerned quarters seems indifferent.
Calling upon the business community to remain peaceful during demonstrations, Iftikhar said that violence never pays.
Sohail lauded the role of Iftikhar Ali and supported his decision to skip Dhaka Convention LEAD 2012 in the interest of business community. National business leaders have helped control tempers during protests which is a great service, Sohail said.-PR