Business community to focus on poverty-stricken “Balochistan”:FPCCI

Quetta: Vice President of Saarc Chamber of Commerce Iftikhar Ali Malik has asked the government and business community to focus on development of resource rich and poverty-stricken province of Balochistan. Mineral resources of Balochistan have the potential to change the fate of Pakistan and make it a developed country, he said.

Malik who is also Chairman of United Business Group (UBG) of the FPCCI said this while speaking at a reception in the honour of UBG leaders by President Quetta Chamber Moosa Kakar. Chairman TDAP SM Muneer, UBG’s candidate for presidency of FPCCI Mian Muhammad Idrees and others were also present on the occasion.

A large number of notables including Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) leader and Provincial Minister Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Provincial President ANP Sardar Asghar Khan Achakzai, Senator Abdul Raoof Lala of PKMAP, MPA Manzoor Kakar of PKMAP and others were also present.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said that the largest province is a picture of neglect to date as no serious effort was ever made to exploit its natural resources. We would push government to initiate long-term planning to unearth and utilise the buried wealth that could change the destiny of the people and the country at large, the veteran business leader said.

Speaking on the occasion, TDAP chief SM Muneer said that government and private companies have focused on oil and gas in this underdeveloped province but other issues like supporting exports and luring investment has been almost ignored. 18th Amendment in the Constitution has given the provinces rights over their resources but it accomplished by a province on its own. We must do something to eradicate the menace of poverty, backwardness, unemployment and all other economic ills haunting the people of Balochistan, he said.

SM Muneer said that businessmen of Balochistan would be given preferential treatment for participation in the international exhibitions.

Mian Idrees said that promotion of Balochistan would be the top priority of FPCCI which will not remain confined to photo sessions, unnecessary foreign tours and useless standing committees.

In their speeches Minister Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Sardar Asghar Khan Achakzai, Senator Abdul Raoof Lala, MPA Manzoor Kakar and others said that they have full faith in leadership of UBG. They lauded the decision of UBG to give full representation to Balochistan in the FPCCI and establishment of more chambers with focus on women chambers. This province has enough resources to bail Pakistan out of economic mess if there is a political will, they said, adding that putting us on the back burner would never be tolerated. Not only is Balochistan rich in minerals and natural gas, but can become the epicentre of Asian energy commerce and control vital shipping corridors via the Gwadar seaport but progress on these issues remain highly unsatisfactory.

The political leaders warned that if Balochistan was ignored by FPCCI as usual or promises were not kept, they would not favour UBG in the elections of 2015.