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Kalabagh Dam if built

would destroy NWFP

- Ilyas Bilour

LAHORE: President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Ilyas Bilour while opposing construction of Kalabagh Dam said, if it was erected, the proposed dam would destroy the whole NWFP.

Addressing a big gathering of businessmen here at a local hotel on Saturday night he said, Kalabagh Dam is not viable and if it was, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto would have to support it openly." I am ready to hold discussion on this controversial issue at any forum and can convince everybody that Kalabagh Dam is not feasible", he added.

He said, today Pakistan is confronted with economic crises and if the government did not frame permanent policies the crises would further deepen.

He regretted that a huge amount of Rs 120 billion has been stuck up with the sick industrial units throughout the country. It was only due to the changing economic policies by the government, he added.

He said, the country could not make any headway in achieving export target determined by the government as, according to him, the achievements in the export sector during the eight months of the current financial year are regrettable despite the fact that we had 10 billion bales of cotton.

Bilour assured that he will not use the platform of FPCCI for platitude matters but to serve the business community especially the small traders.

He advocated for the continuation of fixed sales tax as, he said, government is earning much from this cess.

About trade with India he told gathering that under the WTO agreement our government is bound to give India the status of most favoured nation (MFN) and in this regard the federation is holding seminars at Lahore and Karachi to apprise the business community from the expected effects of past Pak-India trade.

He demanded that government must hold an independent inquiry into the Dry Port fire and bring defaulters to account.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included, Tariq Sayeed, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mehmood Ahmed, Mian Yousuf, Jamil Mehboob Magoon.-PPI