KARACHI, March 2: The chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez has assured that on cases regarding businessmen, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will be consulted and taken into confidence.

He was talking to a three-member FPCCI delegation, which called on him at Islamabad on Saturday under the leadership of FPCCI President Iftikhar Ali Malik and comprising Chairman FPCCI Islamabad Office Sohail Altaf, and former President of FPCCI Mian Habibullah.

The NAB chairman emphasized the need for increasing interaction with the FPCCI and Chambers to create awareness about the procedure of the NAB.

He also called for jointly working for betterment of the country, adding that the accountability process in the provinces would be in consultation with the local Chambers.

“NAB would be pleased to sort out and reach an amicable solution of the cases against businessmen except those cases which already have been referred to Accountability Courts,” he added.

The FPCCI president assured the NAB Chairman that FPCCI will never support the wilful defaulters but would only support the hardship cases and would be willing to play its due role for an amicable settlement.

He called upon the government to announce an industrial and investment package to promote corporate sector and allow free industrial zones with free leasing and tax holidays to increase the investment.

The FPCCI President also urged the government to lower the mark-up rate. The NAB Chairman agreed to this proposal in principle and assured that NAB is already working on it and will take up this genuine proposal with the government.

The FPCCI President invited the NAB chairman to visit FPCCI headquarters in Karachi.

The NAB Chairman said he would like economic activities to take place and respect businessmen playing important role in generating these activities.

He lauded the role of the FPCCI in this respect and agreed that creation of conducive atmosphere for business was of prime importance.—APP