- Imran says govt will form body over businessmen’s reservations, hints at reining in NAB
- Gen Bajwa tells tycoons to hang in there as improved internal security will bear fruits soon
ISLAMABAD: As the state of the economy continues to worsen, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa sought to allay concerns of the dismayed business tycoons, assuring them that the government would address their reservations and will take measures to facilitate their business growth.
In a meeting with the top business leaders on Thursday, PM Imran said that the government would facilitate the business community with all possible facilities.
The delegation comprised Mian Mansha, Bashir Ali Muhammad, Khalil Sattar, Khalid Mehmood, Shahid Abdullah, Arif Habib, Musaddiq Zulqarnain, Usman Khalid Waheed, Sikandar Mustafa, Khawar Anwar Khawaja, Ali Habib and Javed Afridi.
The PM’s meeting with the businessmen came a day after a delegation of Pakistan Business Council (PBC) called on army chief Gen Bajwa to share reservations over the government’s failure to stop the economy from going downhill as well as the witch-hunt in the name of accountability.
‘IMRAN SAYS BODY TO RESOLVE TYCOONS’ ISSUES’
During the meeting, the prime minister said a committee, comprising corporate personalities, was being formed to address their concerns.
Imran said that Pakistan’s development was linked to the economy and added that the government was committed to providing “all possible facilities” to the business community for profitable business activities.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to PM on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Board of Investment Chairman Zubair Gillani and other officials.
The issue of reported harassment at the hands of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was also discussed by the tycoons in the meeting with PM Imran.
The business community is concerned that NAB’s investigations were impacting business activity in the country.
Prime Minister Imran said a strategy has been prepared to remove the business community’s reservations about the functionality of the NAB.
‘IMPROVED SECURITY WILL HELP ECONOMY’
The much-hyped meeting between the top general and business tycoons “in order to bring stakeholders on one platform to formulate recommendations for a synergistic way forward” took place on Wednesday night at the General Headquarters (GHQ).
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Bajwa told the business leaders that “improved internal security environment” has “created space for increased economic activity”.
The army chief briefed the business community and the government’s economic team over the improved security situation in the country, saying: “National security is intimately linked to the economy while prosperity is a function of a balance in security needs and economic growth.”
“Accessibility and responsiveness of the government economic team to the business community and the displayed understanding between public and private institutions is a good sign for the desired positive trajectory in economic activity,” Gen Bajwa, who is also part of the National Development Council, was reported to have told the audience.
The ISPR said that the seminars and discussions in question were held “in order to bring stakeholders on one platform to formulate recommendations for a synergistic way forward”.
The government’s economic team, on the other hand, had apprised the attendees about the initiatives and measures being taken by the government to facilitate business and stabilise the economy.
The business community also pitched in with its suggestions to improve the ease of doing business.
The businessmen assured that they would cooperate with the authorities to ensure that government policies are implemented and would “play their part” by paying taxes and investing in a “socially and economically responsible manner”.
According to a media report, the army chief also floated an idea of an internal commission, that includes army officers, to address the issues faced by the business community of the country.
