MULTAN, The newly-elected office bearers of the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), including president Muhammad Sarfraz and Senior vice-president Khawaja Badar Munir and Vice President Sheikh Muhammad Amjad , and Afshan Gilani(woman entrepreneur seat) spelt out their priorities for the coming year at the annual general meeting held here today. The meeting was presided over by the out going President Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan and election commissioners Farid Mughis Sheikh. Muhammad Sarfraz said that inflation, dearness, Terrorism, price-hike and utility tariff had badly hit the trade and industrial activities in South Punjab.Similarly farmer community also suffered losses due to low per acre yield.Inspite of these bottlenecks ,we have served the industry and agriculture in better way and highlighted their problems at national level through media to get redress them.Sarfraz hailed the Government's policies for the development of trade, industry and agriculture,He also eulogised the Apna Ghar policy, Lakhs of jobs for unemployed people,CPEC related projects ,Devolution of power to Local bodies, Plan to Construct Diamir Bhasha dam,Mohmand dam to overcome the energy crisis and water scarcity. They said that we would support the 100 days agenda of newly elected Government which is based on six themes — transforming governance, strengthening the federation, re-vitalising economic growth, uplifting agriculture and conserving water, revolutionising social sector and ensuring national security, They hoped that PTI would carve out a new southern Punjab province which would be given complete autonomy. He said the new province with its head quarter at Multan would be made an agricultural hub in the next five years and an economic package would also be announced for the people of southern Punjab. The youth of the new province would be provided job opportunities .They were optimistic that Present regime would complete the projects of University of Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Agricultural , Women University . Muhammad Sarfraz paid rich tributes to martyrs of Armed forces who laid down their lives for the cause of country and eliminated the terrorists .He also highlighted the cultural and literary activities through Multan Chamber and promotion of Blue pottery,Glass cut work, Camel bone workm, camel skin work etc. Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan presented his 15-pages achievements during a year and said that at least 20 dignitaries including Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Federal Ombudsman and other visited the Multan Chamber .The MCCI president Muhammad Sarfraz said he would focus on improving the exports, and take measures to save our economy from international recession, playing a role of bridge between the trading community and the policy makers and improvement of infrastructure in the South Punjab in general and Multan in particular.He said that he would serve the business community with the consent of senior colleagues in the business and industry and he also announced the formation of an economic advisory committee comprising leading businessmen and former presidents of the MCCI for the guidance of the government to achieve the economic revival in the shortest possible time.Calling for withdrawal of increase in Gas and electricity tariff describing it detrimental to economy, demand imposition of ban on the import of luxury items and luxurious vehicles instead Government should allow duty-free import of modern machinery, new technology ,making the forms for income tax-returns simple and understandable for all and these must be published in Urdu language as per instructions of Supreme Court of Pakistan. To increase production, he said, the business community would have to spend its energies in enhancing exports, particularly non-traditional items. Senior Vice President Khawaja Badar Munir said the Government should ensure uninterrupted power supply to the industry round the clock on concessional rates during the shut-down of natural gas. He said the simplification of taxes would also be on his priority list. He said the main objective of the MCCI was to promote trade and industry and all available resources would be utilized for the economic turnaround as the economic meltdown had started taking its heavy toll.He said frequent market visits and a consistent liaison with the fellow businessmen would be the cornerstone of the working of the newly-elected office-bearers of the MCCI. Vice President Sheikh Muhammad Amjad said that he would try his utmost to promote the export of products of southern Punjab.He would focus on the problems faced by the cottage industry, agriculture sector which is a backbone of country's economy and we can earn more than one billion dollars by exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to European Union, United States and other countries. Afshan Gilani said that she would particularly focus on the promotion of women entrepreneurship in the country. promotion of arts and crafts and a national Painting exhibition was held in the chamber. Earlier, the election commission Farid Mughis Sheikh formally announced names of winners from the corporate, associate class and one reserved seat for women. Syed Ijaz Shah also spoke .At the end of the annual general meeting, the newly-elected office-bearers assumed the charge of their offices.The annual General meeting was attended by former Presidents ,SVPs, VPS and senior members.
