LCCI asks COAS to play role for charter of economy

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kashif Anwar on Thursday urged the Chief of Army Staff to play his role and convince the government and opposition parties to sit together for the sake of economy.

He said that this is high time that the COAS should convince both the opposition and the government to sign Charter of Economy that is need of the hour in the larger interest of the country and its people.

The LCCI President was talking to the Station Commander Lahore, Pakistan Navy Sajid Hussain at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Executive Committee Members were also present on the occasion.

Kashif Anwar said that today the country needs a charter of economy more than ever. He said that 54 chambers of commerce and industry of the country had already declared that if all the political parties did  not sign charter of economy before elections, the business community, which was also an economic party, was  going to boycott the general elections. He said that the measures at war footing were direly needed as the factories were being closed and the workers were losing their jobs.

Kashif Anwar said that the present economic situation calls for an amnesty to energize the foreign exchange reserves so that the undeclared assets of Pakistanis can be declared and come into the economic circle. He said that there is a lot of money in vaults and invested in land which should be taken out through amnesty. He said that amnesty should be granted across the board and unconditionally as it can bring out around $10 billion into the circulation.

He further said that right now, a very large number of containers are stuck at the ports. The business community is facing difficulties due to the shortage of raw materials, machinery and other essential materials. It is demand of the business community to declare the ports as bond or shift the containers to the bond so that the demurrage and detention charges could be avoided.

He said that deteriorating economy would not only affect the common public but ultimately it would compromise our defense.

Station Commander Lahore, Pakistan Navy Sajid Hussain said that the awareness regarding maritime economy should be given to the business community. In this regard Pakistani Navy is organizing Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference. He said that Pakistan Navy has also initiated CNC amateur golf championship and we want the business community to participate in the golf championship which is a three to four day activity and bureaucrats, armed forces and participants from all segments of society are being invited.

He said that this event provides branding, and displaying advertisement opportunity for which it generates a win-win situation for the companies who sponsor the event and it also helps them in tax exemptions

He said that the businessmen were always at war, adding that the role of business community should be recognized and should be given due importance and all stakeholders are urged to play their role.