Govt fully focused on creating business-friendly environment: PM

Dec 27, 2019: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said in order to ensure ease of doing business in the country, the present government was fully focused on the creation of business-friendly environment.

With the business community being an important pillar of the country’s economic development, the achievement of true progress was only possible with the investment by the private sector, he added.

The prime minister was talking to a delegation of distinguished businessmen and traders here. The delegation comprised President of American Business Council Adnan Asad, Pakistan Business Council Chairman Yawar Ali and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Ahsan Malik, Siraj Qasim Taili, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Agha Shahab, Arif Habeeb, Mirza Iftikhar Baig, Khalid Masood, Zahid Syed and others.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, Advisor on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, State Bank Governor Raza Baqir and senior officers were also present in the meeting.

The prime minister said with the economy stabilizing and economic indicators improving, international institutions, including Moody’s, had termed Pakistan’s economic situation as stable. The government’s economic team was working tirelessly to provide more ease to the business community, he added.

He said the government’s doors were always open for the businessman. Soon after coming into power, his government initiated a consultation process with them which was continuing till date, he added. The suggestions of businessmen and traders, he said, were very important for the government.

The prime minister said the public-private partnership could help check poverty and create employment opportunities. The government also wanted to have partnership with the private sector in development projects so as to take the process of development and public welfare ahead simultaneously, he added.

Imran Khan said cooperation between the government and investors in advancing the development process was a good omen for them.

The delegation expressed their complete confidence in the government’s tax reforms and other policies.

APP