RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Pakistan should explore non-traditional markets in addition to diversification of its exports to ensure its active and persistent presence in international markets, said Capt Syed Waqar Hussain (retd), Directing Staff, National Institute of Management (NIM) Karachi.

He was addressing the members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), here on Thursday.

He said the commercial Attachés appointed in different embassies abroad should play their important role in the promotion of Pakistani exports. However, industrialists and exporters should also improve the quality of their exportable surplus in addition to fulfilling our environmental, labour and other international social obligations.

He said that major portion of Pakistan exports is restricted to textile only. He said: “We must make efforts to diversify our exports to give a quantum jump to our overall exports”.

About trade with India, he said that regional trade was imperative for the development of any country. Apparently, India was not serious in trade with Pakistan. He only wants routes via Pakistan to have access to Central Asian Republics. Pakistan should make a smart move by first establishing its exporters and businessmen in these countries and then allowing India to enter into these markets via Pakistan.

About energy crisis, he said it was a chronic issue and business community should also invest in this sector to fulfil its own needs in addition to providing extra/surplus electricity to the national grid. He said that another major problem was of environment which could haunt our exports in near future. He said that Pakistan should take a well-integrated move to resolve environment issues on top priority basis.

Additional Director General FDA Ahmad Rajuana said that Faisalabad was developed in a haphazard and unplanned manner. However, the government has entrusted us job to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the efficient discharge of water effluent for Faisalabad.

Engr Suhail bin Rashid in his address of welcome explained salient features of Faisalabad and said that this Chamber was third premier Chamber of Pakistan that has been ranked second in revenue generation in the country. He said: “We have played a pro-active role in formulating joint budget proposals and it is encouraging that most of our recommendations have been incorporated in the Federal Budget 2014-15”. He said the Chamber has a vibrant research and development department in which various sections such as GSP Plus, Saarc and Regional Trade, Afro-Asian trade, Chinese Cell etc have been created to facilitate our members and provide them with specific information.

President of the Chamber was of the view that Pakistan should immediately construct multi-purpose dams in addition to promoting alternative sources of energy like coal, wind and bio-gas etc. He also demanded that there should be no need of licence for the production of electricity up to 200MW in private sector. He said the Fesco has a record recovery of 99 percent with lowest line losses. Hence, the government should increase its quota of electricity. Engr Suhail Bin Rashid also asked the senior officers to project the real and soft image of Pakistan as negative perception was portrayed by the international media is detrimental to the economic growth of Pakistan.

Earlier, a question-answer session was held in which officers as well Chamber’s members asked different questions which were well responded by the President FCCI.

Later, vote of thank was presented by Vice-President Ch Muhammad Asghar. On this occasion Ch Riaz-ul-Haq SVP FCCI, Mian Farhan Latif, Mian Muzammal Sultan former Presidents FCCI, Engr Rizwan Ashraf former Chairman APTMPA, Sikandar Azam Khan, Hajid Abid Ali and others also shared their views.

In the end, Suhail Bin Rashid President FCCI presented a FCCI shield to Syed Waqar Hussain while Syed Waqar also handed over a memento of NIM to President FCCI.