PEW asks Muneer to cleanse TDAP, facilitate exports
ISLAMABAD (INP): The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Saturday facilitated national business leader SM Muneer on his appointment as CEO of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The appointment of seasoned business leader on the important slot reflects government’s confidence in his person and the business community which is driver of the economic growth, it said. SM Muneer should prioritise eradication of corruption in the TDAP so that this institution can play its role in the national development by earning foreign exchange for Pakistan, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW. He said that three weeks back Federal Minister for Commerce Engr.
Khurram Dastagir Khan had announced that Government has planned to restructure TDAP to project Pakistani goods in regional and international markets.
His announcement came after expression of resentment by the national business leaders including Tariq Sayeed on the way TDAP was being managed.
However, now government has initiated a step that will reorganise the body and streamline its working according to the aspirations of the business community, said Murtaza Mughal.
Trade is the only way for us to move forward; without enhancing our trade relations we might not achieve our economic goals, he said adding that representatives of the business community must have a say in the trade related matters and organisations working for promotion of this subject.
He hoped that SM Muneer will use all his energies to give a new life to TDAP to enhance the trade share with special emphasis on small and medium enterprises that remains the largest and most neglected sector of our economy.
Government takes measures
to protect consumer rights
Lahore (Staff Reporter): The Punjab Government is taking every possible measures to protect the consumer rights. Along with this, it is the duty of every citizen to keep himself aware of his rights and obligations. Minister Industries Ch. Shafiq while addressing a seminar held on the occasion of International Consumer’s Rights Day. Secy Industries, Commerce Irfan Ali, Chairman Consumer Protection Council Arif Ansari and Director CPC Amir Zameer were also present in the Seminar. The Minister said that a consumer must have knowledge about his rights while living in this society, because without awareness, he will never be able to raise voice against the violations of his rights.
Ch. Muhammad Shafiq said that media has to play its role to give awareness to people about the rights of consumers. He said that there are many evils prevailing in this society and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is striving hard to nip them in bud. He said that Punjab Government has devised a new Price Control Policy and its focus is on its effective implementation. The Minister said that along with government it is also the duty of a common man not only to understand his rights but also fight for them.
Aptma, PCJCCI congratulate TDAP new chairman
Lahore (Satff Reporter): APTMA former chairman Gohar Ejaz and President of Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCJCCI) Shah Faisal Afridi have welcomed the appointment of renowned businessmen leader S M Muneer as Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). Gohar said the APTMA management congratulates the seasoned business community leader S M Muneer for attaining a national responsibility in a highly challenging socio-economic situation of the country. According to him, S M Muneer is a progressive and upright person, enjoying full confidence of business community across the board.
Shah Faisal Afridi expressed the hope that the TDAP will transform itself under the leadership of S M Muneer. He said that for the first time, the apex trade facilitation body will be headed by a businessman, operating different trades successfully.
Lucky Cement labour union protests against sacking of labourers
Peshawar (Staff Reporter): Workers of the Lucky Cement Labour and workers Union Saturday staged a protested against the management and demanded restoration of their sacked labourers forthwith. The protesting workers led by Workers Union President Muhammad Ismail and Saifullah were holding placards and banner inscribed with slogans to press for their demands. Amid chanting full throated slogans, the protesting workers gathered here at main Saddar road outside press club. Talking to media persons on the occasion, the protesting workers said that Lucky Cement management fired 144 persons fours years ego, who were still jobless.
They said that those labourers were compelled on hunger at their homes but the management do not take any interest in the matter.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak directed the Deputy Commissioner Lucky Marwat to resolve the issue but the DC didn’t took any interest into the matter, they lamented. They appealed to the chief justice Peshawar High Court to take notice of the issue and restored all the deposed labourers on their positions. They also warned the government to resolve their problems otherwise they would be compelled to launch a protest movement.
Women offer help to build KBD
Lahore (Staff Reporter): The women engineers, while advocating an early construction of Kalabagh Dam (KBD), have said the dam is inevitable for the progress and prosperity of the country, as it will produce power at an average cost of Rs 1.5/kwh. Showing disappointment on PML-N performance, they said that women engineers are ready to built the Dam themselves, demanding that they should be included in the team of dam builders, as several of them are already involved in mega projects of construction activities. These views were expressed by a large gathering of women including engineers at a function held to mark World Women Day by the Institution of Engineers Pakistan Lahore Chapter.
Nasira Javed Iqbal, Rakhshanda Khalid, secretary Model Town Ladies Club, Naheed Ghazanfar, first lady engineer of Pakistan and Eng Afia Sohail, Director Habib Construction Company were the key speakers.
The speakers said that the cheap power would annually displace costly power worth approximately Rs. 300 billion with consequential savings of costly oil imports. This saving alone would wipe out the current account deficit, boost reserves and strengthen the rupee. They invited women to continue to raise their voices, show their strength to take their own decisions, and to lead a movement for more equitable awareness and resources to shape the health of the woman in Pakistan.