KARACHI: Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori has said that he is the ambassador of the business community who talks to the government conveying the problems of businessmen and industrialists as their representative.
Two days later, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is visiting the Governor House, where he will address all the issues faced by the business community.
He expressed these views while addressing a luncheon held at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
On the occasion KATI Patron-in-Chief SM Muneer, President Faraz-ur-Rehman, were present along with KITE Limited CEO Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, Vice President Muslim Mohammadi, well-known business leader Akhtar Khan Tessori, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, UBG Sindh Region Chairman Khalid Tawab, Former Presidents Gulzar Feroze, Masood Naqi, Farhan-ur-Rehman, Saleem-uz-Zaman, Sheikh Umar Rehan, Danish Khan, Ehtshamuddin, Hanif Gohar, Noor Ahmed Khan, Dr. Saif, senior officials, officers and members of KATI.
Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori said that on the proposal of business community leaders SM Muneer and Faraz-ur-Rehman, representatives of the business community will be included on the boards of major institutions. I will talk to the Governor State Bank and the government to resolve the LC issues of the export industry.
Mr Tessori further said that after two days Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will visit the Governor House, “when I will discuss the problems of the business community.”
He said that it’s about time government institutions should have fixed their problems and perform their duties efficiently.
During the discussion with the business community, the problem of the majority is electricity and gas. It will be discussed with K Electric to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity to the industry, similarly, honest CEO/MD has been appointed to the Water Board, but there is corruption at the lower level, and steps will be taken to remove it.
Governor Sindh also said that he will personally monitor the performance of the government officials. Strict action will be taken against the encroachers.
Mr Tessori said that there is an effort to establish community schools in the city, to promote education and health.
As soon as he assumed the post, he first asked PPP leader Asif Zardari to fix the condition of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Consequently, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan has been requested to head the hospital to improve it. Withdraw the letter of CPLC issued by the Governor House and has sent a new letter to the administration suggesting that Zubair Chhaya is of good reputation and should be re-appointed.
Mr Tessori said that the army should not be maligned, 99% of the majority of the Pakistan Army belongs to the middle class and they know the problems of the common people. Moreover, he said that efforts are on to speed up the assistance to the flood victims.
Earlier, KATI Patron-in-Chief SM Muneer said that the country is suffering from a severe economic crisis, and the former finance minister has said that the country is in danger of bankruptcy. In such a situation, the government should give priority to the suggestions of the business community. Government institutions should include representatives of the business community as board members to increase efficiency.
For the first time, a reliable person has been appointed as the MD of the water board, otherwise, all the previous MDs were the most corrupt people. Due to the incompetence of the water board, I shifted from Karachi to Lahore and other industrialists are also shifting from Karachi. Defamation of the army should end, things have improved a bit with the appointment of a new army chief.
KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman said that the economy is facing difficulties, the LC issues from the State Bank are increasing, and there should be no delay in the payment of raw material import. Apart from this, the industrialists have enormous problems getting gas, electricity and so on. The law and order situation in the city is deteriorating once again. Safe city projects, security and plantation need to be done in Korangi industrial area. The infrastructure of the city is in poor condition, which should be repaired immediately.
Zubair Chhaya, CEO of KITE Limited, said that the foreign exchange reserves are decreasing, and there is a shortage of dollars, but he is confident that Pakistan will come out of this crisis successfully. KITE Limited was established on the model of SITE Limited in the industrial areas of the city, the government also provided funds for the improvement of infrastructure which was well spent, however, the land control department was promised to be handed over which has not been implemented to date. The cottage industry is the backbone of the country. The government is suffering losses due to the court decision banning the transfer of land. However, we will not allow all the cottage industry across the city including Mehran Town to be closed. As the representative of the Federation, it is hoped that the Governor of Sindh will play an important role in solving the problems of the industrialists.
Former President Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said that the pharma industry has reached the brink of destruction due to the State Bank’s initiative. Payments are not being made on the import of raw materials, which is not only discrediting the country, but the industry will stop getting raw materials. Non-payment by State Bank will save dollars but the industry will be destroyed, and export orders will not be fulfilled due to the non-availability of raw materials which will directly affect the income.
