KARACHI, Nov 22: Businessmen and Industrialists have urged the prime minister-elect, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to give priority to poverty alleviation, which emanated from rampant unemployment.

Emphasis should also be given to creating new job avenues by encouraging setting up of new industries, they said.

Office bearers of the FPCCI, which included FPCCI president, Iftikhar Malik, vice presidents, Tanvir Ahmed Shaikh, Chaudhry Saeed and Haroon Rasheed, ex-FPCCI chiefs Fazal-ur-Rahman Dittu, Ilyas Bilour, Shaikh Jamil Ahmed Magoon and Tariq Saeed, also asked the prime minister to remove the irritants faced by the existing industries.

In a statement, they hoped that the new premier and his government would continue to consult the FPCCI in framing trade and economic policies.

Office bearers felt that since Jamali belonged to the PML (QA), which supported the continuation of economic policies of the General Pervaiz Musharraf government, any apprehensions in the minds of the foreign and local investors about change in policies would now be removed and they would come with full force to make investments in Pakistan.

They termed the election of Jamali as the beginning of a new era and success of democracy in the country.

Chairman Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association (PSMA), M. Yaqub Karim hoped that the new prime minister would continue the economic policies of the Pervaiz Musharraf.

APP adds: Anjum M. Saleem, chairman, all Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) expressed the hope that Mir Jamali’s positive and nationalistic approach would promote business trade and industry.

He said that the election of Mir Jamali would improve business, industry, exports and investments.

With Mir Jamali as Prime Minister, Anjum Saleem expressed the hope that the successful economic policies of the present government would continue in the larger national interest.

APTMA chief assured Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali of whole- hearted support of the Textile Industry in all his endeavours to promote country’s industrial production and exports.

The chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Pervez Hanif expressed the hope that the new political government would continue economic policies of President Musharraf for a real growth in the country.

He appreciated the present government for macroeconomic achievements, which, according to him, would be helpful in attaining economic growth in the country.

The LCCI President M. Yawar Irfan Khan has also congratulated Mir Zafarullah Jamali on his election as the Prime Minister of the country and termed it as dawn of new democratic era.

M. Yawar Irfan Khan also appealed to the PM-elect for the restoration of the Constitution of the Pakistan in its true gist and urged him to follow the correct path towards the supremacy of law.

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Sindh has congratulated Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on his election as Prime Minister.

The Vice Chairman, PCGA, Sindh, said here on Friday that he and the entire body of the association was hopeful that the country would march towards socio-economic development and prosperity in his leadership.

He said that the ginning community would extend full support to Zafarullah Jamali to overcome the problems facing the country.