Business

ISLAMABAD; The Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said business community will help government realise export targets under the new three-year Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2012-2015.

Export target of $30 billion is realistic, the private sector can help government achieve the goal which will require workable development initiatives backed by enabling social, political and investment environment, it said.

Business community is awaiting new trade policy and pinning high hopes on newly-appointed Secretary Commerce Munir Qureshi who is considered a business-friendly official, said Tariq Mehmood, President ACCI.

He said that national business leaders including VP CACCI Tariq Sayeed, VP Saarc CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik, President FPCCI Haji Ghulam Kadir Khan Sherani and others have assured all out assistance and cooperation to the government functionaries in realising the entire objectives provided enabling environment is guaranteed.

Tariq Mehmood said that first three-year trade policy framework which is to end in next nine days failed to achieve goals due to energy crisis, want to business friendly tax-system, capacity building and certification issues, export subsidies and lack of interest by finance ministry to provide funds to commerce ministry.

Hailing the passage of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Bill, 2011, he said that it should be made an act of parliament to attract badly needed domestic as well as foreign direct investment.

Tariq Mehmood, who is also Director Pak-UK Business Council and Chairman FPCCI Committee on Health, asked the industry to look for SEZ opportunities in under-developed areas to ensure vertical progress on sustainable basis.

He asked the government to tackle issue of domestic economic uncertainties to realise objectives, reduce unemployment and reliance on borrowings.

Unaddressed gaps and shortcomings can ruin the whole idea of the strategic initiatives, he warned.

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