Businessmen should play role for prosperity: PM
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the government is committed to resolve the problems being faced by common man on war footing despite numerous challenges which the previous government has left as its legacy. He was talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI), which called on him here at the Prime Minister House this afternoon.
The Prime Minister said that the people of Pakistan have given a clear mandate in favour of the moderate and democratic forces of the country and reposed their confidence on our programmes.
He said the government would do its level best to come up to the expectations of the people and all out efforts would be made to bring political and economic stability in the country.
The Prime Minister said the country is facing several serious challenges including power and wheat crises, adding, the government is preparing a strategy to deal with these issues and would take all stakeholders into confidence.
He said that food crisis could have been averted if timely decisions were taken by the previous government.
The Prime Minister said the government would provide a level-playing field to both local and foreign investors to enable them to take advantage of the economic opportunities which the country offers.
He said the government believes that the business community is an asset for the country which should play its due role towards development and prosperity.
The Prime Minister told the delegation that soon after assuming office he held meetings with business leaders in order to get first hand information about their problems which, he said, would be resolved on priority basis.
He said the government will pursue the strategy of enhancing trade and export volume.
The delegation apprised the Prime Minister of the problems being faced by the business community and assured their full support for the government’s 100-day austerity programme.
They informed the Prime Minister that the business community has unanimously decided to use energy savers instead of bulbs in addition to switching off neon signs at their businesses as a gesture of support towards the government’s energy conservation drive.
They also said that the business community of Islamabad considers it a social responsibility to contribute towards the education of youth and said that programmes will be initiated for imparting training and formal education to the employees’ children free of cost. They are also planning to start medical facility for the needy people.