AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lahore, October 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to take serious notice of law and order situation in Karachi and immediately initiate steps to arrest fast surging crime graph.
In a statement issued here Tuesday, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar, Senior Vice President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Vice President Mian Abuzar Shad and LCCI Executive Committee said that economic conditions will not improve unless law and order in Karachi in particular and upcountry in general is seriously tackled.
“The LCCI understands that law and order is major cause of decline in local and foreign investment and if the government fails to respond to private sector’s call, the economy will continue to slide ultimately resulting in closure of industry and trade.”
The LCCI office-bearers said that Karachi killings are a matter of grave concern for the business community as it is the most important business hub of the country that generates huge revenue with sizeable share in the GDP.
The government must re-set its priorities as far as the trade and industry is concerned. “There is an acute shortage of electricity and gas, skilled manpower is in short supply, input costs are very high and Pakistan is fast attaining the status of a trading hub instead of a manufacturing country.”
If the law and order situation is under control and energy is made available to the industry round-the-clock, not only the local investors would get encouragement, but foreign investors would also be ready to initiate joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts thus creating more jobs for the unemployed youth.
The LCCI President said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce an Industry has been advocating for the formation of Businessmen Police Liaison Committee and hopes that action would be taken by the Punjab Chief Minister at the earliest.
Provision of security to the businessmen in particular and citizens in general is prime government’s responsibility and the government must try harder to fulfill its duty. It not only sends a negative signal to foreign investors but also causes brain drain.
The LCCI office-bearers are of the view that the government must listen to the business community’s point of view for increasing industrial productivity.
The countries that were behind us a few decades ago are now much ahead by simply following policies of Pakistan whereas we have not been able to gain much as we abandoned those policies.
In 60s the collective export of a number of Far Eastern Countries was much less than Pakistan and today each country has exports 2-3 times than Pakistan.
For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +9242 111 222 499
Fax: +92 42 636 8854