ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) on Sunday congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan and hoped that the business world would now witness a new era of ‘Pakistan Speed’. PBF President Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman, Vice Presidents Ahmad Jawad and Jahan Ara Wattoo, and Provincial Chairmen Naseer Malik, Daroo Khan Achakzai, Malik Suhail Talat, Atif Ikram Sheikh, Ashafque Paracha and Shabnum Zafar urged the newly-elected prime minister to provide a competitive environment to the business community. The PBF President, in a statement, called for framing a 20-year economic vision for the country, including the signing of a ‘charter of the economy’ by all political parties and a roadmap for economic development.
He suggested that the vision should be reviewed after five years and no government should be allowed to change it on its own. The PBF leader said that due to inconsistency in policies and frequent changes in them, a large number of SROs (Statutory Regulatory Orders) were being issued and that process should be stopped. At the moment, he said, “our exports are about US$ 30 billion and half of it is from the textile sector”. PBF Vice President Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad said after the elections all the political parties must show maturity and join hands with the government for the country and its people. Unity was required as Pakistan was passing through economic turbulence. He claimed that constant rise in the electricity tariff was hurting the businesses and industry at large. The Discos’ losses stood at Rs 77 billion during July-December 2023-24 as compared to Rs 62 billion in the same period of 2022-23, showing addition of Rs 15 billion in total circular debt stock.—APP
