President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said it’s good to see PTI led Government taking some tangible steps towards the fulfilment of their promise to make Pakistan a poverty free nation by following an example the “Chinese” model for the reduction of poverty. The dramatic progress in reducing poverty over the past three decades in China is well known. According to the World Bank, more than 500 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty as China’s poverty rate fell from 88 percent in 1981 to 6.5 percent in 2016, as measured by the percentage of people living on the equivalent of US$1.90 or less per day in 2015. Government’s vision for the establishment of a new Ministry of Social Protection / Poverty Alleviation to address the current fragmentation is welcome.
The Veteran Business Leader told the business community that various institutions likes the BISP, PBM, Zakat & Ushr Department would be working under that ministry, which would develop a one-window operation for social protection of the poor and to facilitate citizens. Prime minister’s promise to introduce a new constitutional amendment to move Article 38(d) from the “Principles of Policy” section to the “Fundamental Rights” section shows the sincerity of government towards the eradication of poverty because this article right now suggests that food, clothing, shelter, health and education of the people should be considered when devising a policy, but after the proposed amendment these 5 things will become “fundamental right” instead of just a mere policy suggestion and the people of Pakistan will have a right to demand food, shelter, clothing, healthy living and education as their right which is promised by the constitution of Pakistan and this will also enable people to contest for the same against any incumbent government in the court of law.
The Former Minister expressed his relieve over the program’s objective for the economic empowerment of the women through “Kafalat” initiative that will be a subsidiary of existing Benazir Income Support Program. Under Kafalat initiative 5.7 million women would be given savings accounts under the “one woman, one bank account plan”. Also under this program the government will provide rural women with buffalos, cows, goats and hens. Which is a test method of poverty alleviation worldwide, he added provision of goats could be both income generating and nutrition boosting. Similarly, he said a kitchen gardening initiative announced by the Premier to provide subsidised certified seed and seedlings to the farmer could produce a greater yield thus improving overall welfare of the people.
Mian Zahid Hussain also welcomes Imran Khan’s plan to launch “Tahafuz” program which is aimed towards the protection of individuals from catastrophic risks – a transparent and traceable digital system of cash transfers through which the government would give legal aid, education grants and health assistance to those without Insaf card entitlements.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that Pakistan ranks 150 among the 189 countries on the Human Development Index, whereas other countries in the region like India ranks 130, Bangladesh at 136, Iran at 60 and China at 86th rank. Imran Khan’s Ehsaas program and all its affiliated programs if carried out effectively and efficiently with the sincere will to up lift 39% of Pakistan’s population who lives below poverty line and to bring about a positive change in their lives then no doubt it will help alleviate poverty and improve the UN’s human development index rank and will go down in the annals of Pakistan’s human development history as a great milestone towards becoming a welfare state. Inflation rate was set to be 5.2 percent for the current fiscal year but it attained the five years’ high to 9.4 percent given to USD appreciation, supplementary budget, and rise in petroleum. Increased inflation, reduction of Rs. 370 billion in FBR collection, increased mark up, reduced business activities are not only troubling the general public but the business community.
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Mardan will prosper with completion of Rashakai SEZ and CPEC: Mian Zahid Hussain
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said that, the fertile land of Mardan is Pakistan’s 19th and KPK’s 2nd largest city which offers marble, gemstones, important ancient ruins of Gandhara civilization for travel & tourism. Mardan’s small scale sector comprises of more than 100 industrial units related to tobacco, tiles, marble and soap is playing an important role in providing employment to its population. Also Mardan’s exports of tobacco and cigarettes provide meaningful foreign exchange to the country’s economy. Mardan has a significant role in the production and export of citrus fruits like “Kinnow”. Other fruits includes pear, plum, apricot, melon, watermelon and peach are produced up to 20 thousand tons during the Harif season ñ other than that 2 thousand tons watermelons, 4 thousand tons melons, 3 hundred tons guava and 5 hundred tons of Mango are also produced.
The Veteran Business Leader told the business community that Mardan has two industrial zones of 40 acres and 50 acres respectively. Also Risalpur export processing zone makes Mardan an important city for small and medium size industry is situated at only 45km from Mardan interchange. Under CPEC, one thousand acres Rashakai special economic zone situated at the border between Mardan and Noshehra is in the final phase of its completion has immensely increased the city’s overall industrial potential. Fruit processing, food packaging and textile industries could be setup at Rashakai special zone industrial which will be a good step towards the growth of industries in the country. Rashakai special economic zone is situated even nearer than Gilgit Biltistan and Afghanistan. Mardan serves as an important junction to the people travelling to Swat and Northern areas where there is a great potential for investment is present. City is not only connected to the country via roads and railways but also Peshawar international airport is just only 75km away. To connect Mardan with CPEC a road will be laid which will enhance city’s industrial and economic value and better infrastructure will not only provide opportunities for business and industry but travel and tourism will also flourish.
The Former Minister said that Mardan has a great statue of Gutam Buddha, an artefact of ancient Gandhara civilization which was unearthed from Takhtbai region is recently displayed at the exhibition at Zurich ñ Switzerland. To promote travel and tourism, KPK’s provincial government is establishing 20 new tourist attraction sites in five years period which will improve Pakistan’s image globally. Provincial minister for tourism Atif Khan is also from Mardan should work more for development of tourism in Mardan particularly.
Mian Zahid Hussain said to get maximum benefit of extraction of marble and gemstones from Mardan, it is vital to introduce latest machinery and techniques, so that these important Pakistani products may fetch better foreign exchange through improved prices in the international market. Consideration should be given to the recommendations of Mardan chamber of commerce in order to resolve problems of trade and industry in the city. The business community should be involved in the process of economic development of the city.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that universities in the city including Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan Women University, UET Mardan Campus and Agriculture University Mardan should work together alongside business community for economic growth in the area. Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Minister local government & rural development Shahram Khan Tarakai belongs to Swabi district of Mardan should use their influence and resources for the betterment of the area, he added.