PESHAWAR: Business community stressed the need for building up a close liaison and coordination between government institutions concerned, business community and international development organizations to resolve business community issues under one-window operation.
Traders said the international development organisations have played a pivotal role in sustainable economic growth and development of Pakistan. They; however, said owing to lack of proper coordination and contacts between government institutions, chambers and relevant stakeholders, there were hurdles to achieve the sustainable economic development goals and set targets under the global commitments made by Pakistan.
The business community urged the international organisations to consult with chambers, business community and relevant stakeholders to resolve business community’s difficulties, especially bringing improvement in technical skills of factories workers, labourers and ensure availability of skilled workers in the province.
These remarks were made by acting president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Ijaz Khan Afridi while talking to UNDP Sector Specialist for Merged Districts Governance Programme Mumraiz Khan and UNDP Field Implementation Specialist for Merged Districts Governance Programme Hammad Muhammad Baig during a meeting held here at SCCI’s House.
The meeting was attended by SCCI secretary general Sajjad Aziz and Coordinator, Research and Development (R&D) Cell of the chamber Ishtiaq Ali and others.
The UNDP representatives briefed the meeting regarding launching of mobile applications under Merged Districts Governance and highlighted its main aims and objectives.
The officials assured the SCCI acting chief to make proper consultation with the business community and relevant stakeholders before launch of the proposed mobile applications, skills training programs and other initiatives.
Ijaz Afridi thanked the UNDP and other partners’ development organizations for taking initiatives to resolve the business community issues.
He said international development organizations had played a vital role in sustainable economic growth and progress in the country and assured the extending full support to make all growth and labour-relief driven initiatives of the global development organization.
Meanwhile, the SCCI acting chief expressed grave concern over prolonged electricity and gas load-shedding in the country generally and particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said KP is producing electricity and gas in surplus quantities despite the people, business community and industries deprived of electricity and gas, facing hours-long outages.
The SCCI asked the government to ensure uninterrupted power and gas supply to business hubs and industries to flourish trade and economic activities, otherwise, the business community will compel in protest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023