PESHAWAR : Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Zahidullah Shinwari has vowed to make vigorous efforts to regain the Prime Minister Fiscal Relief Package for war-affected business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, he said that he is committed to remove all misunderstandings among business community and address all their problems. He said that he is representing business community and any persons, who are members of the chamber, would be served sincerely. He said that in order to address the major issues of business community, a conference would be held soon after Eid-ul-Azha.
He urged upon the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to attract investors to the war-torn province and ensure provision of early gas connections to industrial sector. He said that government must focus on the problems of business community in the province as during war against terrorism the business community badly suffered. The day to day incidents of extortion, bomb blast, loadshedding, price hiking, and kidnapping for ransom have made the life of the business community vulnerable. He appreciated the courage of business community who, despite the deteriorated law and order situation, did not transfer their capital to other provinces. He said Sarhad Chamber has also taken notice of value-added tax and has contacted Federal Bureau of Revenue. He demanded of the government increase the tax net instead of introducing new taxes. He mentioned that Punjab government has formed industrial development and management committee which is also needed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Regarding the failure of investment conference organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Karachi, he said that the conference failed to get desired objectives due to not taking the business community and industrialists on board for holding of this important conference. He said that despite spending of Rs150million for this investment and trade-show in Karachi, business community was not pursued through this platform to invest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Flanked by SCCI vice president Mohammad Shafiq, Mohamamd Taimoor Shah, executive members, Riaz Arshad, along other members of business community, he demanded of the government to hold inquiry regarding this flop trade show, for which huge provincial exchequer was used.
Criticizing the incumbent PTI-led government, he said it has yet to devise a roadmap for changing economic and social perspective of the province. Owing the poor and law and unfavorable business environment, he said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stood at eight in ‘ease of doing business’, while Faisalabad at first position ranking.
He asked the government to make serious efforts, and the business community would fully support it in this regard.
About the future plan, SCCI chief said that they would collect actual data regarding contribution in GDP, sick and operational industrial units, labor employment, joblessness, ratio of poverty, actual generation of electricity, gas and its consumption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Expressing concern over imposition of ban on new industrial connections in KPK, he warned that if the SNGPL would not lift ban on new industrialist connections, they would move court against it.
