With peace secure: ‘Focus must now turn to investment’

K-P governor hopes CPEC will help solve unemployment problem of country

PESHAWAR: With peace restored in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining tribal areas, the focus must now turn towards burgeoning economic prospects and investment to address one of the biggest emerging problems – unemployment.

This was stated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra while addressing the businessmen and traders who are members of the K-P Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) during a ceremony to honour the newly elected cabinet of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in Peshawar on Monday. Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, KPCCI President Zahidullah Shinwari, newly elected FPCCI President Ghazanfar Bilour, SM Munir, Iftikhar Ali Malik and a number of other Industrialists and traders from all over the province were also present on the occasion.

Jhagra said that there was no dearth of natural resources or manpower, yet there is dire need to ensure that these resources are efficiently utilised.

“If we succeed in making the best use of the means, available in the country, not only the economic condition of the province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) will improve, but the entire country will also benefit greatly,” he said.

“Peace has been restored, both in the province and Fata because of the sacrifices offered by the people alongside the Pak Army and the security forces and now we must focus on promoting investment for strengthening the economy of the province,” he said, adding that entrepreneurs and the traders should contribute by availing the opportunities being offered under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to strengthening the national economy.

He hoped that CPEC would help solve the unemployment problem too.

“With its proper implementation, not only the problem of unemployment will be controlled, but it will also lead us to have a prosperous and stable future for the country,” the governor observed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2018.