MULTAN, Oct 28th: President Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Khawaja Salahuddin has said that Pakistan’s economy has suffered immensely, as have many others across the globe. The difference perhaps, between Pakistan and other countries is, that Pakistan’s economy was already struggling for numerous reasons, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the existing problems. Even if Pakistan’s economy were to recover after the virus, ‘back to normal’, would still be far below optimum.He was exchanging views at a dinner hosted in the honour of UBL President Shazad G Dada and other officers. Khawaja Salahuddin appreciated the measures taken by the Government for the revival of industry and saving millions of people from being jobless. He said that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected Pakistan’s economy as the country’s growth rate is projected to shrink to negative 0.38 percent and fiscal deficit is likely to surge by 9.2 percent in FY20, “The GDP [Gross Domestic Product] growth for the current fiscal year is estimated to be negative 0.38 percent mainly due to the sluggish growth of major sectors. The agriculture sector posted 2.67 percent growth, industries minus 2.64 percent, services minus 0.59 percent, transport and communication minus 7.1 percent and manufacturing minus 22.9 percent,” The dinners was also attended by Zia Ijaz, Jabbar Junejo, Qaiser Iqbal , Mian Rehman Nasim, Haji Shirin Khan, Ansar Khan, Younas Khan Babar,Ch. Zulfikar Ali, Ch.Shahid,Irfan Khokhar, Mian Ehsan, and Sheikh Akhtar Hussain.
