Budget proposals of FPCCI will be given due importance: Wattoo

LAHORE : Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Production Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has said that all pre-budget proposals sent by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will be given importance in the forthcoming national budget for the next fiscal year. Talking to a high level delegation of trade leaders led by Iftikhar Ali Malik Friday at Islamabad, he assured that government attached great importance to the business community and all its sound proposals would be considered and given due weightage at all levels.
Wattoo said soon after assuming the portfolio of both ministries he had directed the concerned federal ministries to incorporate the feasible proposals put forth by the federation. “Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had also assured that all efforts would be made to facilitate the traders, especially exporters including foreign and local investors”.
During the meeting, Iftikhar Malik informed the Advisor that federation’s President Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh, after collecting budget proposals from affiliated chambers, had sent those to the federal government.
Wattoo said that government would take business leaders into confidence before framing any trade related policy to make it more feasible and viable.
He said that all officials of the ministries were clearly directed to help redress the genuine grievances of the chambers and traders on top priority,or else strict action would be taken against them.
He said Prime Minister will go through the proposals given by the federation to accelerate the pace of development and provide impetus to the industrial sector.
It may be mentioned here that Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has accepted the invitation of Iftikhar Ali Malik for visiting the federation at Karachi and its zonal office at Lahore in connection with the budget proposals.