KARACHI, Sept 8: Industrialists and businessmen aspire for a role in the exercise to determine the goals of ministries of industry and trade. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is reported to have directed the federal ministers to specify goals and objectives in their areas.
The businessmen assert that the targets of the ministries can only be achieved by involving all stakeholders from the very beginning. Industrialists say they are ready to provide a helping hand in achieving various economic and domestic targets.
However, they feel that the whole exercise of the prime minister in first sight seems as an in-house move to achieve various targets that is why they have not received any letter or fax from the concerned ministries or the Prime Minister Secretariat to become an integral part of the entire effort in achieving targets.
Chairman Site Association of Industry, Mohammad Nisar Sheikhani say the government's move in giving specified targets looks confined to the ministries and it is quite evident from the fact that the association has not received any intimation from any of the ministries concerned till Wednesday.
He says industrialists and businessmen should be invited in this entire exercise because there are a lot of issues relating to the development of industrial base, infrastructure, the WTO, exports related issues, law and order etc., to be addressed jointly by stakeholders and the government functionaries in an effective manner.
The government is trying to remove red-tapism, introduce good governance and make full and effective utilization of the public sector development programme for reducing poverty and increasing job opportunities through broad based development.
He says the industrialists are in a better position to discuss the most pressing issues of joblessness and poverty reduction. The government should invite us for jointly chalking out effective strategies in handling these two most pressing issues, he adds.
Sheikhani urged the Prime Minister to form an implementation committee, including representatives of industrial associations, so that the future and previous decisions could be implemented in time.
Chairman Korangi Association and Trade and Industry (KATI), Mian Zahid Hussain says that the association has not received any message from the concerned ministries in view of the PM's decision of giving targets to all ministries.
He says the government has not taken any feedback from the industrialists on this planned strategy as without the help of business community, the goals and targets, given to the ministries, are unlikely to be achieved.
"The government should invite trade and industries' representatives and consider suggestions and proposals of the businessmen as to how they could help various ministries' in achieving the prime minister's targets," he laments.
Zahid says there is a need for integration in the ministries. Besides, a review committee should be set up which would ascertain whether the previous decisions relating to the development of infrastructure, exports, rural development, trade policies, revenue targets etc., is implemented.
The Review Committee should include the representation from the business community which would also look after the implementation process of future government's decision.
Chairman F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Amin Maniya says no invitation or message has been received from any of the ministries. He adds the business community is ready to help the ministries in achieving prime minister's goals and objectives.
Industrialists can better explain how infrastructure development work in the industrial areas can be expedited besides touching other issues like joblessness and poverty alleviation, he deliberates.
Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Sadiq Mohammad also declares his association has neither received any letter from the government nor any concerned ministries' officials contacted us with reference to the PM's decision of giving targets to various ministries.
He feels the ministries should invite industrialists so that a joint coordination could be developed between the stakeholders and the government in order to resolve the economic issues specially the infrastructure problems which have been suffering from inordinate delays due to the impediment in implementation process.
