ISLAMABAD (APP) - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday gave a go ahead to a proposal to establish an industrial estate at Chakri interchange on M-2 by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) in collaboration with the Government of Punjab.Chairing a meeting to review performance of Overseas Pakistanis Division (OPD) here at the PM House, the Prime Minister said the government was determined to generating economic activity and strengthening country’s industrial base.
The PM agreed to the proposal of establishing the industrial estate under which the land will be provided by the Punjab government while infrastructure will be arranged by OPF on an agreed profit-sharing formula.
Shaukat asked the Overseas Pakistanis Division (OPD) to encourage and facilitate effective participation of the overseas Pakistanis in country’s economic development. He said the overseas Pakistanis living in different parts of the world including the US, European Union, Middle East and Far East regions need to be informed about the investment opportunities in the country.
He said the government was focusing on skill development so that Pakistani workers could fetch higher wages particularly in construction, hotel, services and engineering fields.
Regarding voting rights for the overseas Pakistanis holding dual nationality, he said that this issue needs further deliberation and called for an appropriate proposal to be forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Terming the overseas Pakistanis a major asset and true ambassadors of the country, he said they not only represent Pakistan but are also a major source of foreign exchange in the form of remittances.
Earlier, the PM was apprised of the role, responsibility and functioning of the OPD which was established in 2004 under the Ministry of Labour, Manpower & Overseas Pakistanis to facilitate Pakistanis living abroad.
The meeting was also briefed about the efforts by the OPD in improving the working capacity to ensure better facilitation of overseas Pakistanis. The meeting was informed that during 2006-07, over 2100 complaints were received from overseas Pakistanis and most of these have been resolved.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Minister for labour, manpower & overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Raza Hayat Haraj and other officials.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said the government has given numerous incentives to business community and it should avail these opportunities to improve businesses as well as overall economy of the country.
“Small and medium businesses serve as an engine of growth and play a significant role in promoting the economic activities in the economy of any country,” he said while talking to a delegation of businessmen from Attock, representing Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) here.
The PM said free trade and competition have become the rule of the game that have been established through globalisation especially in the field of trade and commerce. Beside induction of better technology to improve the quality of the products, there is a dire need to develop skills and adopt the international best practices, he added. The businessmen, he said, can also use the services of SME Bank to further improve and expand their businesses.
Aziz said the government will extend every possible assistance to improve the socio-economic conditions in Attock. He said the Industrial Estate being established in the area will give a boost to the local industry and trade and added the development of infrastructural facilities including roads, electricity and communication will further facilitate to improve the economic conditions. He said the expansion of educational and health facilities would directly benefit the social life of the district. The PM said district and provincial governments are keeping strict vigil on prices and added we have ensured that items of daily use are available in the market at reasonable prices.
President of the ACCI while appreciating the economic reform policies of the government expressed confidence that PML and its allies will return to power after the general elections because of their performance.
The delegation lauded the government’s efforts to ensure availability of goods to the people through utility stores. They also appreciated the quality of goods available at the Utility Stores and demanded opening of more stores in District Attock. The delegation also thanked the Prime Minister for his interest in the development of the Attock region.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Environment, Malik Amin Aslam, Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Commander Khalil ur Rehman and Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Tariq Javed.
