KARACHI: The federal government wants Rangers to stay in Karachi as at this point in time it cannot afford to lose the gains of improved law and order, said Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair on Monday.
“Hence, the federal government is committed to ensure that Rangers continue to operate so the business community should feel absolutely safe here,” added the governor.
He was speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zubair added, “Major success has been achieved which simply cannot be wasted hence Rangers will remain here to keep an eye and make sure that we do not get back to the same old position.”
Commenting on the Karachi operation, he said that it was the most challenging task which has been achieved as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the initiative to strictly deal with law and order situation by giving go ahead to the Karachi operation in 2013.
The credit for success of Karachi operation goes to all political parties, Sindh government, police and Rangers, he added.
“We will showcase Karachi as the next destination for investment in front of domestic and international investors in collaboration with the business and industrial community of Karachi.”
He assured the business community to use his office for resolving numerous issues pertaining to taxation and refunds.
“We will fight your case as much as we can in dealing with taxation or any other issue,” the governor said.
Referring to a committee formed by Nawaz, he clarified that the body was not just discussing stock market but it equally discussed issues being faced by manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors.
“Amnesty Scheme is also not just limited to stock market but is stretched over all the sectors of the economy.”
He further pointed out that as compared to 2013, Pakistan of today is totally different which has been recognized by the world, including some of the leading international journals and also by many credit rating agencies.
Underscoring the economic progress achieved during the last four years, he said the funds provided by the federal government to provinces has doubled as compared to what it was in 2013.
Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassim Teli said that “genuine people” are usually ignored in Pakistan whereas non-genuine people, who follow the approach of hails to the presence, are usually preferred, which results in making the genuine representatives voiceless.
He slammed the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for failing to discuss and help the government in formulating economic structure, budget and taxation policies after consultation with all chambers of commerce and trade associations.
“Not a single industrialist, importer, exporter, company or individual is FPCCI’s member as it is the apex body comprising chambers of commerce and trade associations only but unfortunately the FPCCI indulges in irrelevant activities by holding meetings with irrelevant people like collectors, SHOs, SSP and other government officers who should interact with chambers of commerce and trade associations whereas the FPCCI should play its role by giving inputs in policymaking process at the federal level.”
Siraj Teli further commented that Nawaz Sharif’s government was much better in 1991/92 when bureaucrats fully respected businessmen and never thought of carrying out anything illegal but nowadays, these bureaucrats are fearlessly carrying out all types of illegal activities not only in Karachi but across Pakistan.
Teli also said, “All discretionary powers have been granted to FBR in the last four budgets through finance bills which I believe is a backdoor as such powers can only be granted after proper debate in the assembly but, unfortunately, this was not happening as bureaucrats smartly inserted all these powers in the finance bills of last four years, resulting in intensifying the hardships for business community.”
