LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that importers and exporters, despite facing various challenges, have achieved many millstones in export sector and earned precious forex exchange for the country
Addressing the importers and exporters at the first-ever Export Trophy Award 2016 held by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the CM House, he said that though the economic indicators are not desirable, but are better than the past.
He added that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, foreign exchange reserves crossed the figure of $23 billion. He said that though the reserves are far lower than any other country in the region but even then show that economy is improving.
He said that energy crisis have crippled the economic health of the country and the government has launched a number of projects. He hoped that electricity supply will be improved by June 2017. He said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the landmark investment by the Chinese government.
He said that that for the first and the last time anyone has invested over $46 billion in Pakistan and the project when gets completed would game changer.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said that though status of zero rated to the five big sectors by the government is a welcome step but engineering, halal products and information technology sectors should also be given zero rated facility so that Pakistan could get its due share in the global trade.
On the occasion, Vice President LCCI Nasir Saeed thanked the CM and invited him to award Export Trophy 2016 to the winners.
Group Director of Maple Leaf Cement Yahya Hamid received Chief Minister Trophy, Chief Executive of Nisar Spinning Mills Mian Tariq Nisar received LCCI Golden Trophy, CEO of Royal Leather Industries Agha Saidan received Export Compliance Trophy, Chief Executive of GFC Fans Muhammad Ilyas, Chief Executive of LUNA ABRASI VI Khadam Hussain, Chief Executive of Qudratullah & Co Qudratullah, Chief Executive of Vital Tea Haji Muhammad Yaseen, Chief Executive Officer of Azguard 9 Ltd Mian Ahmed H. Sheikh, Proprietor of Sarwar Foods Tariq Mahmood, Director of I2C Mian Salman Arif, Chief Executive of March Denim Abdul Aleem Bhatti, Chief Executive of CCL Pharma Sajidullah Ghuman, Chief Executive of Altech Engineering Mian Muhammad Saeed, Director of Khursheed Textile Hammad Khursheed, Chief Executive Atlas Exports Rana Abdul Manan, Director Finance & Marketing of Ammad Enterprises Ammad Butt, Director Leatherage Muhammad Amir Masood and Ayyaz Ahmed Malik of Malik Sirajud Din & Sons Ayyaz Ahmed Malik received export brand and export performance trophies.
Former LCCI Presidents Mian Anjum Nisar, Mian Misbahur Rehman, Muhammad Ali Mian, former Senior Vice Presidents Abdul Basit, Mian Nauman Kabir and Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghous Pasha were prominent among the other participants.
