HYDERABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that the revelation of names is in fact nature’s revenge with the corrupt.

More names will come to the fore soon, a press release emailed to Dawn by Aiwan-i-Sadr quoted the president as having told the members of Kotri Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) on Saturday.

Pakistan offered better opportunities to investors and entrepreneurs, he said while urging investors to avail maximum benefit from it. He urged the trade bodies to provide guidelines to investors so as to boost exports and make a niche for Pakistani products in international markets.

Regarding electricity, Mr Hussain said that the energy crisis would let up after the completion of several ongoing projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He appreciated Kati industrialists for producing their own electricity while promising to resolve their issues with Nepra.

Regarding corruption, Mr Hussain said that the country would make progress only if corrupt practices were done away with and those responsible held accountable.

Reminiscing about the glorious past, he said the country remained on the path to progress till the 70s but soon after corruption started to seep in thus gradually halting the pace of development. Though there was no dearth of competent and skilled people, the culture of ‘Sifarish’ and corruption was coming in the way to prosperity, he said.

The president said that the Gwadar deep seaport would be made functional this year. Regarding water shortage, he said, the government was establishing more water reservoirs to overcome the crisis.

Speaking on terrorism, the president said that the government was making huge efforts to wipe out this menace altogether. Once the goal is achieved, it would leave a positive impact on trade and industrial activities. He lauded the Kotri industrialists for playing an important role in national development. Previously industrial activities and economy were affected for some reasons but the steps taken by the government had cut down terrorist activities to a great extent, he said.

The National Action Plan had been drafted and was being implemented with national consensus for reduction in terrorist activities, he said while linking traders’ satisfaction to the government’s success.

Kotri’s industrialists briefed him about the issues they were facing. The president also presented awards to industrialists.

Earlier, President Kati Khalid Baloch presented the welcome address.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2016