LAHORE, May 4: The Qaumi Tajir Ittehad has stressed the need for early resolution of judicial crisis and expressed willingness to close down all the markets in the provincial metropolis after 9.30pm.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Lahore QTI president Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and secretary-general Nazir Ahmed Chohan said the business community held the judiciary in high esteem but was seriously perturbed by the ongoing protest campaign against the `suspension’ of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

They urged the government and the opposition to resolve the judicial crisis at the earliest as it was posing a serious threat to the economy.

Answering a question about closing the shops after 8pm, they said the QTI had consulted more than 600 traders associations in the provincial metropolis on the issue. The Ittehad had been informed that the wholesale markets were already closing by 7.30pm. Retailers were ready to close business after 9.30p.m.

Swiss investors: Swiss Ambassador to Pakistan Markus Peter has called for more interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and Switzerland to avail the opportunities available in the two countries.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday, he said the Swiss business community was quite impressed with the business-friendly economic environment in Pakistan and was eager to make investments in sectors like textile. Several Swiss companies were already operating in Pakistan and doing a successful business.

The ambassador expressed the hope that Swiss investment would see a boost in coming months due to liberal policies of the present regime. He also invited the LCCI president to visit Switzerland with a trade delegation to explore the possibilities of joint ventures.

He said lack of information about business opportunities was the major bottleneck in promotion of trade and economic activities between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, chamber president Shahid Hassan Sheikh said Pakistan was amongst the fastest growing economies in the region due to supportive macro-economic policies, growing domestic demand, renewed confidence of the private sector, fiscal discipline and competitive exchange rates.

“The economic indicators in terms of gross domestic product, balance of payments and foreign exchange reserves are much stronger today than ever before.”

He said Pakistan had abundant natural resources and cheap skilled manpower but lacked technology. It was a market of 155 million people and gateway to the Central Asian Republics, South Asia and Gulf countries.