ANP leader, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour has said that terrorism has discouraged the local investors to invest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province is full of natural resources, which can help to grow industry and tackle with the growing unemployment issue.
Speaking at function hosted by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in his honour after elected senator for fourth consecutive time on ANP ticket, he said the province would become soon larger gas producing region after discovery of new reservoirs of gas in Kohat and other parts.
KP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Senator Nabi Bangash, SCCI President Afan Aziz, Vice Presidents Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Usman Bashir Bilour, prominent industrialists Mohsin Aziz, renowned industrialists and traders attended the function.
Senator Ilyas Bilour vowed that they would continue his efforts for attainment of legitimate right of KP. He said the SCCI was playing integral role for resolution of business community problems, adding it had raised voice for any illegal steps, which could deprive the province of its legitimate right.
Commenting on his Senate elections, he said ANP had always supported free and fair elections, saying that he had been elected senator with support of party leadership with highest votes of 59. He extended especial gratitude to ANP Asfanydar Wali Khan for granting party ticket for Senate elections. He also thanked to all Provincial Assembly Members for electing him for the fourth time as member of Senate. On reservations of a renowned industrialist Ghulam Sarwar Mohammad for not placement of Senator Ilyas Bilour in federal cabinet despite elected consecutive fourth time as member of the Senate, he argued that he would not have desire to be part of federal cabinet, and had never in the past.
SCCI President Afan Aziz, while addressing on the occasion, said it was a matter of pride not only for the ANP but also for the people of the province that Senator Bilour had been elected to the Senate for the fourth time. Aziz acknowledged that Senator Bilour always played vital role in resolution of issue confronted by industrialist and business community of the province.
The Prime Minister Fiscal Relief package, he appraised, had extended to war-affected businessmen due to efforts of Senator Ilyas Bilour and rest of ANP central and provincial leadership. He expressed the hope that Senator Ilyas Bilour would continue to serve his energy for welfare of traders and industrialists. He demanded of the government to further extend PM Fiscal Relief Package to war-affected KP, adding the situation was still unstable and precarious in the province.