LAHORE: No country can ever achieve its aims and objectives until and unless it has a strong system backed by strong institutions as weak institutions are bound to expose a country or a state to all types of challenges.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Ijaz A. Mumtaz expressed these views while addressing a high-level delegation of Navy officers of 44th Staff Course of Pakistan Navy War College who visited LCCI to explore role of the business community for the economic well being of the country. Rear Admiral Abdul Aleem was leading the delegation while LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir and former President Sohail Lashari also spoke on the occasion.
While lauding the sacrifices of the security forces for establishing writ of the government, Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that peace is a must for economic development of any country. He said that deteriorating law and order condition had caused undue loss to the national economy but now things are moving in the right direction because of joint efforts of the government and security forces. “The days are not very far when Pakistan will be free of terrorism.” he said.
Giving a detailed briefing on LCCI role in policy making, Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is playing its due role for promotion of trade and industry in the country. Over 100 sector-specific Standing Committees collect private sector feedback, analyze and after a thorough debate it is forwarded to the concerned government departments for consideration at the time of preparation of the Federal Budget. He said that LCCI monitors the budget, anomalies are identified and these coupled with revised proposals are again communicated to the relevant policy making departments. He said that the LCCI also keeps liaison with the commercial sections of the Foreign missions and an exchange of information is ensured.
He said that the LCCI is also quite conscious of its Corporate Social Responsibility. It has two self-sustaining projects; Shalimar Hospital and LABARD on its credit. The Shalimar Hospital is providing modern health facilities to the common people while LABARD is not only acting as placement body for the disabled persons of the society but also provides relevant training to the young minds in an effort to rehabilitate them.
In his address, the head of delegation Rear Admiral Abdul Aleem lauded the role of LCCI for keeping the country’s economy on right track. He said that it is the private sector which plays a decisive role for the economic boost of any country. He said that the LCCI is doing a real service by projecting a positive image of the economy of the country.
