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'The reformers' puts out

proposals to save

country from crisis

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: 'The Reformers', an apolitical forum for socio-economic revival of the country, has made over a dozen well-thought-out proposals to steer the country out of the long-prevailing crisis.

The organisation passed a resolution at the conclusion of long deliberations it held here on Saturday as the trade and industry conference.

Shaukat R Mirza, a prominent industrialist and chairman of the trade and industry committee of 'The Reformers', presenting implementation strategies for revival of trade and industry, said that the top leadership of the country should come out with clear concepts and goals of industrialisation in the country. "Once, the concepts are cleared, long-term policies should be drawn out with legal cover," he said.

He said the urgency needed streamlining of all government organisations, upgradation of quality of human resources, rationalisation of tariff and tax structure, taking strong measures to curb smuggling and legislating effective anti-dumping laws.

He further said that the rulers should undertake fiscal reforms eliminate multiplicity of taxes; provide competitive trade and investment financing as well as low cost infrastructure. Organisation of manpower training and development and advisory services for small and medium enterprises should be among the priority lists of the government, he added.

Najmuddin Chaudhry, a chartered accountant, suggested an alternative tax system, abolishing all direct taxes and replacing them by a single tax what he termed as 'payment value tax'.

During the open discussion session the participants observed that the scheme needed further improvement since it might cause negative impact at macro levels.

Nisar Memon, president of 'The Reformers' in his address of welcome said that good governance in trade and industry called for the government to come out with short, medium and long-term policies as well as ensuring their implementation.

However, he urged the business community to fulfil its responsibility towards good citizenship. The business community must contribute high business ethics, human resource development and corporate social responsibility, Nisar said.

Tasleemuddin A Batlay, and Qasim Ahmed Shaikh also read their papers addressing the issues concerning the completion of Pakistan industry and challenges of trade in the preset global economy. Abudul Kader Jaffer also addressed the conference while Yaseen Lakhani and Nazim F. Haji conducted the proceedings of the conference.