Tuesday, March 24, 2009
LAHORE: Pakistans economy has so far suffered irreparable loss of $68 billion directly and indirectly due to turmoil in Afghanistan.
Speaking as a chief guest at a seminar on The Role of Economy Towards Survival of the Country in connection Pakistan Day, founder chairman Pak-US Business Council and VP SAARC CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik said it is on record that Pakistan is the only country in the world which has not only suffered tremendous economic loss but also huge human loss in the war against terrorism.
He said that more than three million Afghan refugees harbouring in Pakistan were also posing security risk. He said that entire Pakistani nation including business community and all political parties under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and sagacious guidance of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani are united against the menace of terrorism and committed to curb it once for all.
He said due to war on terror, Pakistans national economy is exclusively suffering a net loss of $7 billion annually as fallout of the war against terror, which has displaced thousands of people.
In the prevailing scenario, US must provide direct market access to Pak products on zero rate duty to help stabilise the countrys bleak economy in the wake of the war against terror. Iftikhar who is also co-chairman businessman panel, the largest alliance of chambers in the country and ruling group in FPCCI on behalf of entire business community again urged for US assistance to Pakistan to help overcome the economic crisis, by restoring the quota for Pakistan at par with all other under developed countries.He said there is vast scope for US private sector investors in every sphere of life, particularly in the agro, power and IT sectors.
