ISLAMABAD: Responding to criticism of Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa’s comment on the economy, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday said that the military could not remain indifferent to deteriorating economic situation of the country.

“The army cannot remain unconcerned with the deteriorating situation while tirade against this institution will not only result in more instability, but will also damage the country’s image,” said Malik Sohail Hussain, chairman of the FPCCI coordination committee.

Mr Hussain said the army chief had infused confidence into investors and the statement of the Inter-Services Public Relations chief was based on facts.

Criticism of the institution described as carrying instability risks

“The army is the guardian of our ideological and geographical frontiers and the entire nation acknowledges its services and sacrifices,” Mr Hussain said, adding that safety and security were essential for economic growth and a strong economy supported strengthening of security institutions.

Mr Hussain was the focal person at the FPCCI seminar where the COAS spoke about the state of the economy. He said that the comments by the COAS attracted unnecessary criticism from certain quarters.

“Top economists and business leaders of the country were present there who agreed to the point of Gen Qamar Bajwa,” Mr Hussain said.

The FPCCI leader said that national and international researchers continued to comment on the state of the country’s economy and, therefore, the institution responsible for the national security could also comment on the economy which should be taken positively.

He said the China-Pakistan Econo-mic Corridor was being completed in time despite opposition by various countries and the key role in this regard was being played by the armed forces.

“The government and the army are on the same page on the economic corridor issue, and it was essential that they remain on the same page on economic issues because otherwise the country will face problems,” he said.

A joint statement by several FPCCI members said that a weak economy could never guarantee sovereignty of a nation otherwise the Soviet Union would not have been dismembered.

They said the government should not waste time on petty issues and focus on correcting the direction of the economy so that grave threats to it were handled properly.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2017