ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has urged the exporters to play their part in promoting tax culture in the country and asked them to pay regular taxes to generate more revenue.
The president said this while addressing the fourth achievement awards ceremony of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. He said the government is working on major infrastructure development and energy projects under the CPEC and the national economy was improving at a rapid pace.
Mamnoon said all the economic indicators in the country had improved over the past three years and the fact had been acknowledged by several international organisations. He said the business community and trading bodies were playing a key role in strengthening the national economy owing to the great turnaround shown by the prudent policies of the government.
The president urged the industrialists and the exporters to look for new markets, besides expanding into the conventional markets of Africa, Central Asia, Far East and Middle East. He specifically mentioned the Central Asian markets and said there was lots of potential for Pakistani business to grow.
The president asked the representatives of the exporters, industrialists and business community to seek remedial measures from the government departments, which would facilitate them.
President Mamnoon said corruption had damaged the country in the past, however things had changed considerably and the situation was improving. He said if the people of Pakistan work with honesty, sincerity and commitment the situation in the country would improve and there would be remarkable development and accelerated prosperity.
Speaking about Pakistan’s ties with its neighbours, the president said that Pakistan desired good relations with all, including India and the lingering dispute of Kashmir, he added, could never be put on the back-burner.
He said that Pakistan always raised the issue of Kashmir, whenever it entered into talks with India.
The president said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in the best interest of Pakistan and hoped that talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban would proceed positively in the months ahead.
President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam thanked the president for handing over the achievement awards for the third time in a row and appreciated his commitment towards the business community of the country.
The chief executive officer of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan SM Munir lauded the measures taken by the government to bring about economic stability in the country and particularly mentioned the steps taken to ensure law and order situation in the country.
The president handed over awards, certificates and shields amongst 73 participants for their outstanding performance in boosting trade and strengthening the national economy.
The event was attended by Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana, federal ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors and members of the business community.
