PM’s visit remained very fruitful: SCCI

F.P. Report

SIALKOT: President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Zahid Latif Malik has said that the recent visit of the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to SCCI remained very fruitful, which boosted the high hopes of the Sialkot exporters regarding the amicable solution to their prolonged perturbing problems as well.

He expressed these views while briefing media person at his office here on Tuesday, regarding the recent visit of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to SCCI.

Zahid Latif Malik revealed that SCCI highlighted the perturbing issues of the Sialkot exporters regarding the pendency in clearance of the sales tax refunds, customs rebates and DLTL claims besides giving positive proposals for the betterment of Sialkot industries including the early establishment of a high powered national level Export Monitoring/ Development Committee under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister, establishment of the Sialkot campuses of NUST and Bahrain universities in Sialkot, renovation of the roads infrastructure in Sialkot, setting up of Passport and NADRA Executive offices at SCCI, One Window Facility for the collection of all the taxes from Sialkot exporters, establishment of a state-of-the-art federal hospital at Sialkot, besides, seeking the special grant for establishing the projects Sialkot Tannery Zone as well.

He said that the Prime Minister agreed with the SCCI proposals and gave approval of all of these projects.

“PM has assured us that the pendency of Sialkot exporters’ claims regarding customs rebate, sales tax refund and DLTL would be cleared till the deadline of February 15,2018”, said the SCCI President.

Zahid Latif Malik told that the PM has assured that all the pending customs rebates and sale tax claims would be cleared till the deadline of February 15, 2018, given by the PM and it would be a major achievement of Sialkot business community as the payment of billion of rupees in shape of customs rebates, sales tax refunds etc would be helpful in jazzing up the pace of trade and industrial activities in Sialkot.

He said that the Prime Minister highly acknowledged the marvelous achievements of the Sialkot business community in socio-economic and human development of Sialkot, saying that the other cities of Pakistan should also replicate this role model of Sialkot for booting the national economy as well.

He said PM was of the view that Sialkot industry had set an example for others to follow by ensuring proper quality of its products and maintaining international standards set by top brands.

Zahid Latif Malik said that he assured the Prime Minister that with above mentioned facilitations, the Industry of Sialkot would achieve the set targets for the Exports and would play their role in further strengthening of National Economy.

SCCI President appreciated the vision of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in line with promotion of exports and national economy and lauded the efforts of PML-N led Government for eradicating the menace of Energy Crisis.

PM further said that the government was working on developing new strategies through which cost of inputs for the Industry could be reduced to increase the competitiveness of Made in Pakistan products, SCCI President.

Agreeing with SCCI proposals, Prime Minister expressed his commitment to work on all the recommendations by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and PM announced the establishment of Export Development Committee, Formation of Sector Specific Export Promotion Councils, and setting up of a state of the art Cancer Diagnostic Center in Sialkot.

The PM also announced that necessary efforts would be made in the infrastructure development of the Sialkot city and pledged to provide grant to Sialkot Tannery Zone from Export Development Fund (EDF) on SCCI recommendation as well.

Prime Minister also pitched for the idea of promotion of Knowledge Based economy and capacitating SMEs to achieve the export led growth in true spirit. He assured the business community of every support provided they would achieve the targets and efficiencies in their businesses; the SCCI President told the newsmen.