PESHAWAR: The business community has urged the federal and provincial governments to remove hurdles to exports and create a conducive atmosphere for investment to enhance business activities and boost the national economy.

“Pragmatic steps should be taken to create an investment-friendly atmosphere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,” Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Moqeem Khan told a gathering of the business community here on Thursday.

The participants included former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, SCCI senior vice-president Abdul Jalil Jan and vice-president Shehryar Khan, Anjuman-i-Tajran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Haji Mohammad Afzal and former president Faiz Mohammad Faizi, other representatives of the business community.

A Chinese delegation consisting of Zhou Jion Lin, Ma and Zhou also shared views on the occasion, according to a statement.

The delegation was accompanied by gemstone and carpet exporters Jameel Khan, Atif Khawaja and Kamran, and other traders.

The SCCI chief highlighted the extensive investment opportunities in different potential sectors of the province. He, however, said that exports and trade had halted in KP after the imposition of two per cent cess on them by the provincial government and due to a lack of business-friendly policies.

The participants highlighted concerns about two per cent cess on exports, lack of security arrangements, and issues related to customs and other departments.

They said the provincial government had imposed two per cent cess on exports that resulted in shifting of businesses to other provinces.

The participants said that talks were underway with the provincial government about that cess on exports with a hope for the resolution of the issue.

The exporters emphasised foolproof security measures for investors. They called for the removal of hurdles to exports and trade.

Mr Moqeem said he would take up all issues of exporters and foreign investors with authorities and would address them amicably.

The SCCI chief stressed the need for the abolition of cess on exports saying the move will boost exports and investment in the province.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2024