LAHORE: For a greater interaction with trade and industry associations and to prepare workable proposals for the upcoming budget for the year 2014-15, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has constituted five committees.
The decision was made at a meeting presided over by the PIAF Chairman Malik Tahir Javaid. The committees were tasked to come up with solid proposals that would be forwarded to the government in due course. The conveners of these committees would also increase liaison with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the sake of collective approach in all the issues and challenges being faced by traders and industry.
PIAF Executive Member Mudassar Masood has been appointed Convener of LCCI Liaison Committee, Zafar Mehmood appointed as Convener Membership Committee, Khalid Mehmood Chohan appointed as Convener Business Development Committee and Nabila Intisar has been appointed as Convener Women Relation Committee.
The PIAF Chairman Malik Tahir Javaid said that an effort had been made to bring all the sectors of the economy on one platform. He said that the objective to form the committees was to give a clear message to the business community that PIAF would continue to raise voice to the just cause of business people at every forum and at all times to come. He said that PIAF has always highlighted business community issues at all forums.
“It has a very clear stance on Kalabagh dam, other water reservoirs, high mark up, high banking spread, highest ever government borrowing from domestic and international channels, tax-to- GDP ratio, under invoicing, good governance, law and order and shortage of energy. It has been raising voice on these issues and would continue to do so with full vigour in future as well,” he added.
He said that Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar & Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif must make best efforts to expedite economic activities in the country and by taking solid steps. PIAF will make the government efforts more fruitful.
He said that PIAF believes in consultation therefore it has always urged the government to take stakeholders on board while evolving economic policies. He said that the PIAF had always stressed the need for early construction of water reservoirs in the country including rain-fed Kalabagh dam and it’s high time that the government also reaches this conclusion that Kalabagh dam was only solution to ensure availability of cheaper electricity to the masses.
