Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said ease of doing business, elimination of unnecessary regulations, improvement of tax system and maximum facilitation of businessmen involved in the process of industrialization is the government’s foremost priority.

He was talking to a delegation of the country’s renowned industrialists and representatives of Karachi’s trade organizations here. The delegation comprised Mian Anjum Nisar, Shariq Wohra, Saleem-uz- Zaman, Faisal Moeez, Muhammad Ali, Abdul Hadi, Naveed Shakoor, Engineer Nisar, Ajmal Afzal and Zubair Baweja.

Federal Minister Asad Umar, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor Dr Ishrat Hussain, Board of Investment (BOI) chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and other senior officers were in attendance.Governor Sindh Imran Ismail was also present in the meeting.

Members of the delegation lauded the government for its policy and measures for the promotion of industrialization process in the country, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and for announcing Karachi package. The delegation also apprised the prime minister of the difficulties faced the business community. The government team briefed the meeting about the measures being taken for facilitation of the businessmen and ease of doing business in the country. The prime minister said he would continue to hold meetings with the businessmen so that, by keeping in view their proposals, the process of reforms and facilitation could be taken further forward.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Governor Sindh Imran Ismael to sort out the matters related to Bundle Island project in consultations with the provincial Government of Sindh.

Talking to the Governor Sindh, the Prime Minister said Bundle Island project would generate immense opportunities of investment and employment. The Governor Sindh gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister on Karachi Transformation Plan.

Earlier, Governor Ismail said the Bundal Island project would enable investments and trade to the tune of several billion rupees in Pakistan with potential of creating 0.15 million new job opportunities. Addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, he said the mega project at the Arabian Sea – a sea off the coast of Karachi, would prove a milestone for the economic prosperity of Sindh and Pakistan. He said there would be a transparent bidding process and all revenue would go to Sindh.