FAISALABAD: Industrialists and businessmen are generally convinced that the democracy of worst type is far better than any form of dictatorship. The textile industry is the mainstay of the country’s economy as it contributes the bulk of our exports and fetches the much-needed foreign exchange. Faisalabad is known as the textile capital of Pakistan.

The industrialists want business-friendly policies for smooth production and they believe that such policies are often introduced by the democratic governments.

All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association zonal Chairman Mian Aftab Ahmed said that businessmen wanted business-friendly policies whether these are coined by the elected or non-elected government. However, he said people felt much comfortable with the democratic government than dictatorship.

The growth of industry will automatically curtail unemployment, and democratic governments focus such policies more effectively, he maintained.

Presently, 250,000 power looms, 40 textile spinning mills, 100,000 silk power and shuttle-less looms, 1,000 dying factories, 500 printing mills, 130 textile processing mills, 180 sizing units and about 1,500 hosiery and knitwear units are operating in the district. The textile sector employs more than 1 million workers.

Pakistan Edible Oil Refiners Association Chairman Mian Mohammad Hanif, who is also former president of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is in favour of a democratic government. He categorically said that the democratic system and not dictatorship was acceptable in any form.

“It (democratic system) benefits you a lot at local and international level.” He said adding, “the international community had great regard for you if your country affairs were run by an elected government, which could not dare to deprive you of your legal rights.”

Riaz Shahid, a grey cloth trader, is not happy with both the systems, still he prefers democracy over dictatorship.

He said, ”In a democracy you vote first and take orders later but in dictatorship you don't have to bother about voting. He urged the future democratic government to remove some autocratic policies the country faced in the last democratic regime. A textile exporter Nasir Hanif has also confidence in a democratic set up because of its popular policies and a soft image for the business community.

He said, “We had lost a major part of the country owing to the autocratic policies. The recent tragic incident of Red Mosque was also the result of autocratic policies. The present regime without taking politicians into confidence killed scores of innocent students of the Red Mosque and Jamia Hafsa. The democratic government would have chosen the way of dialogue instead of a gruesome attack on the mosque.

He said businesses frequently grew in peace and harmony and such environment persists only in a democratic system.

Printing Press Association’s former general secretary Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed said exporters, industrialists and businessmen wanted the government to furnish guarantee for consistency in policies for the growth of business. And a democratic government do it easily, because of its soft stance on all issues and close liaison with all segments of the society.

Most of the industrialists and businessmen requesting not to be named said that the real estate business and the banking sector was the priority of the present regime as most of its players lacked competence in evolving strategies to strengthen the economy.

They said hollow slogans of huge foreign reserves were being made, but nobody knew who was benefited from such assets, as poverty and unemployment is rampant in the country.

They said stock market crash and cement and sugar cartels deprived the masses of billions of rupees, but nobody bothered to act against the responsible persons. However, a democratic government honouring the public sentiments would have acted otherwise.