MULTAN: Welcoming the decision of Prime Minister Imran not to import cotton & sugar from India and bilateral trade, noted industrialist, ex-Punjab caretaker Minister for Industry, Ex-President of Multan Chamber, and Ex-Chairman of Multan Dryport trust Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi who is sitting president of Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that rejection of trade proposal with India would help in bringing prosperity and improving Pakistan’s economy.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has conveyed a message to traders and farmers of Pakistan that the Present Government totally rely its countrymen’s skill and expertise and it would move towards a stronger economy with their cooperation and coordination. He was addressing a special meeting of DGCCI today. He said that India never been a good neighbourer and fair-trade partner of Pakistan. It ever betrayed Pakistan.
Jalaluddin Roomi said that some elements were attempting to create artificial scarcity of Sugar in the country to fleece the consumers. but Government had taken some solid and far-reaching step to foil their nefarious designs. He said that New Finance Minister Mian Hammad Azhar has taken some effective steps to strengthen the economy soon after assuming the charge of finance ministry. These steps would pave the way for progress prosperity and the brightest tomorrow. He said that depreciation of the dollar’s vale and strengthening the Pak rupees had proved the Imran Khan’s vision was dynamic and correct that had put the country on the right direction. Jalaluddin Roomi said that India’s past is evident of this fact that Indians ever proved harmful and untrustworthy.
He said that It is the need of the hour to immediately announce the support price of “Raw-cotton” (Phutti) and per-acre subsidy for farmers to bring maximum area under cotton crop. He suggested that Government should allocate 3 billion Dollars for agriculture sector to enhance the cotton production and to avoid the import of cotton. He said that Production of merely 5.6 million bales is insufficient to run the textile industry and we had to spend 3 billion dollars on the import of cotton to meet foreign orders.
Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi suggested that Government should ensure the availability of well germinated, heat & disease resistant certified seed, good quality fertilizer, pure pesticides and required water to get positive results and to meet the targets.
He said that Government should avoid import of Sugar and cotton from any country to save precious foreign exchange and to focus on boosting up the agriculture production to stand the country on its own feet by making it self-sufficient in grain, cotton, sugar, maize, pulses, olive oil, and edible oil etc.
Congratulating Mian Hammad Azhar on assuming as Federal Finance minister, Jalaluddin roomi was optimistic that he would take the Pakistan’s economy to its cine-Zenith through his God-gifted abilities. He said that industrialists and businesses of South Punjab assured him full cooperation in preparation of budget and to set the country on the right track. He said that he must invite the proposals and suggestion of business community of South Punjab.
