FCCI calls to give CPEC ownership to private sector

FAISALABAD: Federation of Pakistan’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) president Rauf Alam Monday said the CPEC is a game changer but it is also directly related to the business community, so its ownership should be given to the private sector of Pakistan.

Addressing the business community in the auditorium of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said Pakistan is an economic hub of regional business activities.The event was also attended by S M Muneer of Din Group of Industries, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry andMian Muhammad Adrees former President FPCCI and Zubair Tufail, the nominated candidate of the United Businessmen Group (UBG) for president ship of FPCCI for the year 2017.

Rauf said: “We are holding the presidentship of the FPCCI, D-8 and ECO.”He said Pakistan is now making efforts to shift the head office of ECO to Islamabad as Head Offices of Islamic Chamber and SAARC Chamber are already housed in Islamabad.

He said the Executive Committee of the ECO held in Iran decided to hold its next meeting on December 20, 2016 in Pakistan.About the CPEC, he said the Chinese investors have posed a direct challenge to the business community of Pakistan and we must be prepared to face these challenges. He said the Pakistan government is also offering lucrative incentives to the Chinese investors and we must keep our eyes open in the fast changing scenario.

He said the CPEC is an economic agenda and hence its ownership should be entrusted to the private sector of Pakistan.He mentioned an unconfirmed report that thousands of acres of land in Balochistan has been given to China.

“Some 70 per cent Chinese will set up their industrial units on this land while the remaining land will be leased out to the Pakistani industrialists which will be a very strange phenomenon”, he maintained.

He also mentioned the construction of Capital office of FPCCI in Islamabad.He expressed hope that a bill will also be tabled in the National Assembly to enhance the tenure of President FPCCI from one to two years.

Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President SAARC Chamber, nominated candidate for FPCCI Zubair Tufail, Mian Muhammad Idrees and S M Muneer also spoke.