Experts weigh in on K-P development strategies

Say inclusive policymaking crucial for development of KP, Hazara Divison

ISLAMABAD:

Experts at the Public-Private Dialogue on ‘Better Business Regulatory Environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ said inclusive policymaking, better coordination between relevant government departments, policy consistency, and better awareness of the private sector regarding government initiatives could play a crucial role in triggering the economic growth and development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Hazara Division in particular.

The event was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and National Network of Economic Think Tanks (NNETT)-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KPBoIT) CEO Dr Hassan Daud Butt detailed several initiatives taking place in the Hazara Division saying, “These initiatives have contributed towards the development of a policy framework for industrialisation and investment inflow in the region. “ He said the focus is to further reduce red-tape in provisions of credit, more inclusivity in policy formulation besides other facilitation being offered by the provincial government.

Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) Manager Tayyab Mehmood said the government is paying attention to work with technical and vocational institutes run by the industry and that the policy focus on industry clustering and energy wheeling for Hazara division needs to be enhanced.

Several women entrepreneurs from Abbottabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) including Tasleem from Phulkari, Nughma from Naina Kids, and Munazza from Kimmy Bags, highlighted the issues being faced by the women entrepreneurs of Hazara division. They urged for special incentivization of the cottage industry-based entrepreneurs working towards traditional handicrafts and opportunities for them to display their efforts nationally and abroad.

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ACCI Group Head Haji Iftikhar was of the view that cottage industry development board may be formulated to facilitate and incentivize the talented women and micro-industries of Pakistan.

ACCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Saleem Sarhadi raised the issue of lack of awareness in the private sector pertaining to government initiatives while ACCI Vice President Anees Ur Rehman Lone suggested that more focus on tax base should be made rather than on tax rate.

Pak-Austria Fachhochschule institute of applied sciences and technology Dr Arif Shah claimed that the inclusion of industries in academia and vice versa may require academic institutions to be converted into limited liability companies. Haripur University Dr Kamran asserted that the impact assessment of previous schemes should be evaluated to move forward.

The dialogue was moderated by SDPI Centre for Private Sector Engagement Engineer Ahad Nazir, SDPI Joint Executive Director Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Asim Awan from Pakistan Single Window, ACCI President Sheikh Asif Hussain, Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Umair Khalid also attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2022.