Business leaders meet PM in Karachi

KARACHI: While representing Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig met new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Governor House here on Saturday. The meeting was also attended by prominent industrialists and leaders of the business community.

Dr Baig informed the PM that the former PM had promised to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey in May-June 2017, but it was still pending. He requested the PM to consider signing the FTA with Turkey on priority basis in order to boost Pakistan’s textile exports.

He also requested the PM to finalise the amnesty scheme to declare or bring back the foreign investments to Pakistan. He added that a formal proposal had already been submitted to the PM by the committee chaired by Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair.

Dr Baig urged the government to supply cheaper electricity to the industry at affordable rates to compete with regional competitors. He also informed the PM about the alarming increase in trade deficit due to declining exports and increase in imports.

The meeting was also attended by Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Tariq Bajwa, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Tariq Pasha, Zubair Tufail, Ishtiaq Baig and many other leading businessmen.—PR