Trade not war can lift people out of poverty : FPCCI

Lahore : The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Friday lauded the statements of Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India regarding war on poverty.

Both countries have realised that tensions are not beneficial to anyone while war on poverty and illiteracy is of prime importance, said Abdul Rauf Alam, President FPCCI.

Talking to CEO TDAP SM Muneer, SVP FPCCI Khalid Tawab, SG UBG Zubair Tufail, Zonal Chairman UBG Naseem ur Rehman and others, he said that most of the world’s poor lives in sub-continent while over forty percent of the population of Pakistan and India is living below the poverty line.

These people can be lifted out of poverty through trade and not with the help of war, he said, adding that leading figures of the two countries should stop trading allegations and war of words which will not benefit anyone.

Abdul Rauf Alam said that World Bank has dubbed South Asia as hotspot of development where growth rate has crossed seven percent which will go down substantially if tensions continued.

He said that Saarc countries should improve taxation system to divide benefits of growth among population otherwise the forex reserves and miseries of masses would continue to increase.

The President FPCCI said that Kashmir dispute should be resolved otherwise peace and enhanced trade in the Saarc region will remain a pipedream.

He lauded the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, COAS Gen. Raheel Sharif and majority of the politicians who played a very positive role during the recent crisis.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has done a commendable job by calling the political leadership to the table for building a consensus on Kashmir, said Alam.