The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, appreciating the government commitment to follow macroeconomic fundamentals through effective policy-making and targeted reforms, has called for taking the real stakeholders onboard for an ultimate object of sustainable and inclusive growth trajectory. FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar stressed the need for designing policies in consultation with real stakeholders to address economic challenges like inflation, stagnant exports and resource mobilization. He said major economic indicators are showing positive growth which manifested the fact that the government has put the economy in the right direction, saying the policymaking in consultation with the private sector will overcome the economic challenges, besides removing hitches to speedy economic recovery. “The FPCCI has been working with the government to utilize its abilities to review the overall economic situation and coordinate policy actions in an effective manner to achieve the desired targets of key economic indicators.” Mian Anjum Nisar said there was significant growth in foreign reserves and foreign direct investment with decline in the current account deficit. The large scale manufacturing sector was also showing improvement. The boost in the economic activities would hopefully improve the overall situation in every sector, he added. He said that the current accommodative stance of monetary policy will support economic recovery while inflationary pressure is also expected to ease out in coming months due to various policy measures. He hoped that the exports would register a sharp improvement in Oct 2020. He said that current account balance is in surplus, which will have a positive impact on the exchange rate stability of the currency. He said the economic outreach initiative launched by PM Imran Khan would bring a positive change. Efforts should also be made to highlight the country’s soft image across the world, he demanded. Meanwhile, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, has said that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused drastic decline in the business activities across the country and it was high time that the government should focus on formulating more conducive policies besides taking supportive measures for the private sector to enable businesses to revive and boost business activities in the country. He emphasized that the State Bank of Pakistan should work with commercial banks to provide loans on low interest rates to the private sector for revival and expansion of business ventures. He was addressing a dinner reception hosted by Sheikh Abdul Waheed, Chairman, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) and Faad Waheed, Executive Member ICCI in honor of new Office Bearers of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said promoting ease of doing business should be the top priority of the government so that the economy could come out of the difficulties created by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, instead of taking facilitative measures for businesses, FBR was issuing regulatory orders like SRO-924 and SRO-931/2020 that would create additional problems for businesses of Construction and automobile sectors. He stressed that FBR should take stakeholders fully on board before issuing any new SRO that would save the economy from unnecessary problems. Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, Chairman, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade highlighted the potential areas of investment in the Punjab Province and said that the business community should capitalize on them for future business promotion and growth. He stressed the need of close cooperation and regular interaction between policymakers and business leaders to make new policies that should put the economy on the path of sustainable growth.