28 August 2004	Saturday	11 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Aug 27: The President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Riaz Ahmed Tata, on behalf of business community has congratulated Shaukat Aziz on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In a statement here on Friday, Mr Tata expressed full confidence in the managerial acumen and technical expertise of Mr Aziz due to which he has a very successful track record of financial and economic development.

He stated that Mr Aziz was the architect of the strategic economic and financial reforms implemented during the last four years which have resulted in turnaround of the bankrupt economy and subsequent tremendous improvement in the macroeconomic fundamentals of the country.

The FPCCI chief was very hopeful that with Shaukat Aziz as prime minister the country would make rapid socio-economic development enabling it to join the league of developed countries in Asia.

He proposed that the new prime minister should prepare and effectively implement a strategic socio-economic plan for the country which should aim at rapid development of industry, exports, trade and commerce, creation of jobs and alleviation of poverty.

Meanwhile, the President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Siraj Kassam Teli, on Friday drew the attention of Prime Minister-designate Shaukat Aziz to the three core issues of the country - economy, justice and national unity.

In a message for the oath taking ceremony of Shaukat Aziz as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Teli suggested that he should resolve these three issues on top priority enabling Pakistan to remain on the right track for all times to come.

He said the private sector, the engine of growth, could play its optimum role in economic progress if the trade bodies were reformed to make them anew and progressive ones.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Mian Zahid Husain in a statement on Friday welcomed Shaukat Aziz as prime minister and hoped that the new premier would devote all his energies for economic uplift of the country to resolve problems of business community.

The KATI chief said that Mr Aziz should focus on projects which help in reducing poverty and create employment opportunities. -APP