Traders have great expectations from Asif

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Traders have great expectations from Asif



Sunday, September 07, 2008
By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE

BUSINESSMEN hope that President Asif Ali Zardari would bring in a capable team of economic managers and revive the country’s economy.

Muhammad Ali Mian, the president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that businessmen want to give democracy a chance. He said all parties had accepted Asif as the president and businessmen hoped he improved the macro economic indicators deteriorating with every passing moment. He said the country was passing through the most turbulent period in its history. He said Asif would have to take the challenges head on as business, law and order and government writ were at an all time low.

Mian Abuzar Shad, the former chairman of the Pakistan Industrial Traders Association Front, said that although never proven guilty, Asif had a reputation that he would have to prove wrong by ensuring full transparency in the government’s economic affairs. He said Pakistan would have to follow global procedures for awarding contracts. He said that Asif would do well if the Punjab government was not destabilised.

Naeem Ahmad Khan, the former chairman Lahore Stock Exchange, said: “We should respect the mandate of the electorate as representatives of the nation had elected Asif”. He said the nation had put its fate in the hands of Asif who even otherwise was calling the shots as the PPP co-chairman.

He said the new president would have to be very careful while formulating policies on Capital Market. He said a few moves the regulators made during the first four months of the PPP-led government raised many eye brows. He said the capital market should be regulated under the highest global standard to avoid mudslinging later.

Adil Butt, a leading knitwear exporter and former chairman of the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, said the present government had taken some extremely unpopular steps that were necessary to keep the budget deficit down. He said Asif as the president of the country and head of the ruling party should focus on reviving the sagging economy.

He said businessmen would cooperate with the government in following all merit-based transparent policies that Asif would formulate to revive the economy. He said maintaining status quo, as had been done during the past four months, would lead to flight of capital.

Farooq Iftikhar, the former senior vice-president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Asif was an elected president and businessmen should give him a chance. He said economy was in such a state that there was no more room for deterioration. It would in fact lead to chaos if the economic downslide was not stopped, he added.

He said Zardari could revive economy through prudent and transparent policies. He said given his chequered past, the new president should improve his image and leave a mark on the history.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=134390

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Business leaders express confidence in new President



Sunday, September 07, 2008
By M Farhan Zaheer

KARACHI: Industrialists and businessmen congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on being elected the new President of Pakistan and expressed confidence in his abilities.

Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh, President, FPCCI said it is indeed a historic event in the history of country where major political parties have ultimately recognised that unity is the need of time. “I am sure that all political forces have learnt the lesson from the past and that all will be ready to work for this country,” he said.

He added that business community is confident that Asif Ali Zardari has all the capacity to deal with the current economic and political crisis of Pakistan.

As he exhibit political maturity in last some months, the business community is right to believe in him that he will play a positive part in economy as well. He should prepare a comprehensive emergency road map for the socio-economic development of Pakistan, he said.

Nisar Sheikhani, Chairman SITE Association of Industry said that he welcomed Asif Ali Zardari as the newly elected president of Pakistan. “We hope that the country will proper with this new leadership.”

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on becoming the 12 president of country and hoped that Pakistan will progress industrially under his leadership.

The office bearers of KATI in a press statement on Saturday said that Asif Ali Zardari would emerge as the symbol of federation and that he will deal with all the economical problems being faced by the country.

The association hoped that Pakistan will experience development in all sectors under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Yousuf Raza Ghilani.

Siraj Kassam Teli, former President of KCCI along with Tahir Khaliq, M. Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki, Former Presidents, Anjum Nisar, Senior Member, Shamim Ahmed Shamsi, President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, Senior Vice President, Muhammad Haroon Agar, Vice President and Managing Committee Members, conveyed heartiest congratulation upon thumping majority win of the election of President of Pakistan and prayed for his success towards achieving the desired goal they said that the Business community is confident that the country under his able guidance will move in right direction.

They also said that it is indeed a matter of rejoice and satisfaction for the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan particularly members of the business community that the electoral college with thumping majority has elected a dynamic personality as President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which is indeed due recognition of his meritorious services to the democratic system in the county. As the policy of National Reconciliation is the need of the hour and PPP having representation in all the four provinces of the Federation supported and elected to the high Office of the President of the country would strengthen the federation, bring stability and remove political and economic uncertainties, which are pre-requisite for promotion of trade and industrial activities and socio-economic development of the country and ultimately in the interest of the poor masses.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=134278