MULTAN: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will prove to be a “game changer” for the region especially as big booster for the economy of Pakistan.
After completion of the corridor, consignments of the businessmen will reach Karachi from Chinese city Urumqi via Gilgit in a couple of days which, these days, take 50 to 60 days to reach the port city.
Talking to APP, All Pakistan Bed-sheets and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) Chairman Syed Asim Shah said the PML-N government was working hard to make CPEC a success including talks with estranged Baloch leaders for reconciliation and some others measures. He added that political stability, and uniform policies were vital for better future of the country.
“All we need is political stability and uniform policies for the bright future of the country,” he said.
On share of textile industries in national economy, Chairman APBUMA said that the industry constitutes 60 per cent of the total volume and 80 per cent of labour workforce in total.
To a question, Shah stated that main issues faced by the industry were energy crisis and low pressure of gas, adding that if these problems were resolved, they might give a gigantic boost to economy of the country.
Replying another question, he informed that some industrialist had started collecting timber to use it in boilers which was not a good step.
A sapling takes 10 years to grow up as a tree while boilers takes 35 minutes to consume it, Shah said and added that when we go against nature, we have to faces dire consequences. To another question, he said that businessmen preferred Karachi dry port over Multan because thousand of consignments off loaded there and they received these quicker and faster at Karachi’s as compared to Multan dry port.
He informed that his father, Syed Qasim Shah played a key role in the construction of Multan Dry port. The APBUMA chairman confirmed that there was lack of coordination between FBR and businessmen which was causing problems in taxation system.
