It was only recently that prime minister Imran Khan was fully apprised about the challenges facing manufacturing sector. Those who met him were representatives of various sectors including pharma, cement, textile, chemicals and home appliances. Minister for Industries, Advisor Commerce, Advisor Institutional Reforms, Advisor Finance, Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and senior officials were also present at that meeting. In other words, it was a genuinely high-level meeting.

A few days later, representatives of trade and industry from Karachi also called on the prime minister. On both the occasions, the prime minister vowed his government’s full support to businesses; he also promised them that all unnecessary regulations constituting impediments to business growth would be removed as early as possible. It appears that his government is quite serious about the challenges facing trade and industry in the country. But his advisers are required to translate his promises into firm actions with out any further loss of time.

MEHDI RAZA (KARACHI)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020