LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday stressed that Pakistan's grave issues of terrorism, law and order and economy must not be used for political mileage.
He was addressing the 37th FPCCI (Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Export Awards distribution ceremony at a local hotel here.
Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Federal Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, FPCCI President Zubair Ahmed Malik, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik, FPCCI President-Elect Zakria Usman and others were also present.
The prime minister said the government was striving to tap all resources to overcome energy shortage, which was the very basic need to keep the industry operational; jack up exports through increased production; ensure economic development and people's prosperity.
Nawaz Sharif recalled that in his recent visit to the United States, he had communicated to US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and other officials for provision of trade to Pakistan, instead of aid.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has always encouraged the private sector, adding that it was very unfortunate for Pakistan that a number of profit-earning institutions were nationalized in the past just to oblige cronies and workers.
“Had the institutions not been nationalised, Pakistan would not have been facing problems like poverty, ignorance and a crippled economy today and the nation is still paying the price of that drastic mistake,” he added.
The premier said that the rulers who had tarnished Pakistan's image, cannot escape by talking of state and non-state actors, as the monster of terrorism has gone stronger due to their ill-conceived policies.
Utter seriousness is needed to eliminate this years-old menace, he said, adding that the PML-N government was committed to improving law and order by weeding out terrorism.
Sharif said that the government inherited a number of problems including energy shortage from its predecessors and soon after coming into power, it had to pay off Rs500 billion in circular debts to the power sector.
“The PML-N government is fully aware of its responsibilities. We are using all avenues from where we can get electricity, as I believe in actions and not in mere promises,” he said.
“The government is focusing on speedy completion of all energy projects including Gaddani Power Project, Diamir Bhasha Dam, Bunji Dam and Dasu Dam, civil nuclear power projects, Neelum Jehlum Hydro-power Project and more,” he added.
The prime minister said that the gas shortage should have ended during last five years but unfortunately, it continued to persist till the PML-N government came to power. He, however, added that his government was working on the issue and gas shortage would be bridged within next one and a half years.
In addition to power generation, he said the government was also paying full attention to road infrastructure projects, especially the Lahore-Karachi Motorway to improve trade activities in the country.
“If motorway projects in the previous PML-N tenures had started, today there would have been a huge network of motorways up to Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and hence trade and business activities would have increased substantially in Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister said that directions for establishment of an executive committee, comprising of business and trade representatives, have been issued.
It would meet with government officials at least after every three months, while he and the relevant minister would also sit along with them and all business related matters would be sorted out, besides taking policy decisions on the spot, he added.
“I think this is the fastest mean to improve trade, exports and industry,” he observed.
Nawaz Sharif also called upon the industrialists and traders to give their recommendations to the government for doubling the country's export volume.
He said that Khujrab-Gwadar trade corridor would bring about development and prosperity in the entire region of Gilgit-Baltistan and the country.
The premier said that the government initiated the Youth Business Loan Scheme to make the Pakistani youth independent by starting or expanding their own businesses.
During the ceremony, he gave away FPCCI export awards while the FPCCI President presented a souvenir to him.
The prime minister also congratulated the President-elect FPCCI Zakaria Usman and appreciated the services of outgoing Federation's President Zubair Ahmed Malik for playing an effective role in promotion of business.
He also acknowledged the services of Iftikhar Ali Malik, the Vice President of SAARC CCI.