Accountability of business leaders demanded

Lahore: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday demanded accountability of the business leaders saying that economy cannot progress if people in important positions are not held responsible for their actions.

The power struggle among national business leaders to rule FPCCI is unfortunate which has resulted in uncertainty, it said.

The business leaders who were behind tens of millions of corruption in the construction of FPCCI capital office should come under inquiry, their assets must be scrutinised and they should be blacklisted, demanded Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that  promotion of the economy can be ensured after free and equal representation of businesspersons in trade bodies most of whom have been held hostage by families, lobbies and groups of businessmen.

The qabza groups have been plundering resources and betraying government as well as members of these bodies, he said.

The situation has disappointed many which is a reason behind establishment and popularity of chambers of small traders, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal.

The role of regulators is far from satisfactory which has ensured the continuity of malpractices, he said adding that the issue of FPCCI capital office is tip of the iceberg which surfaced due to struggle between warring business leaders.

Lauding the role of NAB, he said that noose must be tightened against business leaders as well as staff of FPCCI which is equally involved in the plunder.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that TDAP has betrayed government by including people under inquiry in the committee probing ill-gotten gains in the FPCCI.

Government should not have stopped the funding of FPCCI but initiated a move to recover the stolen funds, he demanded.

He said that the story of FPCCI is being repeated in the construction of SAARC Chamber building which must be stopped by the government and anti-corruption bodies.