Economic challenges: Zardari seeks out-of-the-box proposals

President terms business community an invaluable asset in economic progress.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged the business community on Friday to come forward with out-of-the-box proposals for the government to overcome economic challenges.

Talking to a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the president said that the business community should help the government restore the people’s confidence in the national economy.

The president sought the cooperation and suggestions of the business community to stimulate economic activities and promote a business-friendly environment in the country. The president thanked the business community for its support at a time when the government was fighting against the militants and facing the devastation caused by natural calamities.

He termed the business community an invaluable asset in economic progress. He said that a combination of domestic and international factors had affected the economic activities in the country.

However, he added, the government was taking measures to improve the security situation to help resume economic activities. He highlighted the steps taken by the PPP government in the economic realm, saying that it had introduced reforms to put the country back on a sustainable growth path.

He said that the social protection umbrella was being extended to the poorest of the poor through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

The president called upon the FPCCI to highlight problems of the business community and safeguard its interests through regular engagement with the government.

He said that public-private partnerships would result in a new era of socio-economic prosperity in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th,  2011.