ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired a meeting with the Governor Sindh Imran Ismail and Business community from Karachi through video conferencing. Advisers to Prime Minister on Commerce and Austerity and Institutional Reforms and Petroleum were also present during the meeting.
The businessmen included representatives from the garments and textile sector, pharmaceutical industry, Pakistan Stock exchange and tourism and hotel industry, gave proposals regarding the issues they had been facing and the assistance they require from the government in the times of this crisis. They requested that they should be enabled to look after their daily wagers in the next 2-3 months times and be provided with assistance to carry on their business with improvement of their liquidity position.
The Adviser to PM said “the government is faced with a challenging situation and in this challenging situation the prime objective of the government is to do three things. A) Contain the virus, B) provide health care facilities, essential food items at affordable rates and help to maintain enough cash in hand to the common man and C) provide help and assistance to the business community to run their businesses during the times of the pandemic without a permanent set back to the economy.
For this we are seeking proposals and working on them, we are hoping to give a plan that is simple and implementable to meet our objectives.” He further said “have faith that the government is there to support you”.
On the request of the business men the secretary finance told that SECP has given proposal and mechanism to home department Sindh to help in running business/ trading at stock exchange Karachi.
The food industry shall remain open and continue business as usual and wherever needed the federal government will have dialogue with the provincial government to facilitate the business and trader community.
Governor Sindh told that they have prepared food bags with the help of USC for the needy and shall soon be distributed. Governor Sindh also assured of his assistance wherever needed.
In the end the Adviser asked the business community to look after the daily wagers and workers who are outside the registered regime as helping them is also our social responsibility.
