Traders, businessmen’s role vital in economic progress: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that contribution of traders and business community is a pre-requisite for economic progress in the country.
He was addressing the 28th Achievements Awards Ceremony organized by the Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here late on Thursday.
The finance minister said it was a great pleasure for him to be among the top performing businessmen and personalities from other spheres who have played a key role in the socio-economic uplift of the country.
“I have closely interacted with members of the business community. They have contributed well by putting forth proposals for tax reforms,” the finance minister added.
The minister said he was fully aware of the problems of the business community and assured them that the government was devising policies that could address their genuine issues in an appropriate manner.
The minister on the occasion said he wanted to convey the message to the investors around the world that Pakistan is an excellent destination for foreign investors.
“All international rating agencies have given us positive ratings, the latest is Fitch which has awarded us a ‘B’ rating,” he added.
The country’s forex reserves stand at a record US $18.56 billion and the inflation rate in July-August 2015 has been the lowest in over a decade at less than 2%.
Highlighting the economic performance of the government, he said during the last two years, the GDP growth accelerated, revenue collection witnessed a 16 percent increase and crossed Rs2,478 billion mark.
The minister said that operation Zarb-e-Azb was started to eliminate terrorism from the country by taking all the political forces on board and it was heading to its successful completion.
There has been 33% increase in the revenue generation in the last two fiscal years — this is all reflective of stability in economy, Dar added.
Appreciating the role of RCCI in the development of the country, the finance minister said, “RCCI has contributed in a number of development activities and it is well represented in government, semi-government and private sector projects.”
Some of the excellent examples of contribution of RCCI are Islamabad Stock exchange, Islamabad Dry Port and RCCI Industrial Estate Rawat; these milestone projects are an example of how RCCI is involved in the uplift of the trader community of the region.
The minister later gave away achievement and honorary awards to top performers in the fields of business, commerce, industry, education and social welfare.