FAISALABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on
Wednesday industrialisation was gaining momentum as the government
overcame the problem of energy shortages.
Addressing
members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Mr
Abbasi said the government fulfilled its commitment to overcoming
electricity and gas shortages and now its focus was on cutting the cost
of doing business, particularly for the industrial sector.
Underlining
the importance of industrialisation, he said the private sector must
play its role for the establishment of new industrial units as the
government ensured continuous supply of gas and electricity.
“We
are now concentrating on making energy affordable for the industry,” he
said, adding that its cost increased due to ill-conceived policies of
previous governments.
He said the government would
facilitate the private sector by providing it with best infrastructure
in the shape of state-of-the-art industrial estates and motorways.
As
for the construction of a new airport, the prime minister said he would
ask the Punjab government to allocate land for it. He said
industrialists should undertake the Expo Centre project as a commercial
venture.
Appreciating Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz
Sharif, the premier said Mr Sharif did excellent work for the uplift and
development of the province, adding that other provinces should follow
suit.
The prime minister said the government was trying to introduce a taxpayer-friendly culture in the Federal Board of Revenue.
He
said Pakistan had huge export potential although exports were only $20
billion. “We must make collaborative efforts to increase our exports to
$50-60bn per annum,” he said.
Commenting on the
increased trade deficit, the prime minister said it was due to the
import of machinery for power and other sectors.
Regarding
the regulatory duty, he said the federal minister for commerce and
textile was reviewing it. “We have to discourage imports of unnecessary
luxury items,” he said.
The prime minister said the
government was focusing on the improvement of small and medium
enterprises, adding that a strategy was being devised to reorganise the
power-loom sector on modern and scientific lines.
He asked the FCCI president to pinpoint problems and suggest viable solutions to help the government resolve the same.
Separately,
speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of a car assembly plant of
Hyundai Nishat Motor Ltd at M-3 Industrial City, Mr Abbasi said the
government would complete its constitutional term and the next general
election would be held on time.
The premier said
Pakistan was facing instability six years back, but the situation was
far better now. Foreign investors are interested in making investments
in Pakistan due to the sincere efforts of the PML-N government, he
added.
Mr Abbasi said the government completed a number
of mega projects, including power generation units, motorways and gas
terminals.
The prime minister appreciated the role of
the Nishat Group, saying the establishment of the plant would encourage
other investors to come forward and play their role in national
development.
Nishat Group Chairman Mian Muhammad Mansha,
Millat Tractors Chairman Sikandar Mustafa, Punjab Governor Malik
Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana, Minister for Commerce and Textiles Pervez
Malik, State Minister for Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali, State Minister
for Communication Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry and State Minister
for Interior Talal Badar Chaudhry were present on the occasion.