Karachi:
Pakistan’s Party President (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari firmly criticized the federal government for making unilateral decisions and warned that the Sindh would approach the courts if his rights were refused and his right part of the resources.
Addressing a business world gathering, Bilawal praised the Public-Private Partnership model (PPP) as a reference to stimulate economic growth and promote prosperity nationwide and urged the business world to Collaborate with the Sindh government to forge lasting partnerships.
Bilawal said the unilateral determination of electricity prices in Islamabad, without consulting the business world or the provincial government, was an important problem. Like gas, he added, Sindh has long been denied his legitimate part of water.
“It is you, and I who support the consequences of such policies,” he said. “They shamelessly claim that load shedding has been eliminated, but many regions of the country still suffer up to 6 p.m. of panoramic. We have lost confidence that we will never get reliable electricity from the federal government.”
As a water shortage as a critical problem, Bilawal warned that it was not only Pakistan, but that the whole world was faced with the threat of drought and famine due to global warming. He also criticized the federal government’s decision to build six new channels on the Indus River.
“This [canals] Move will worsen the situation of water in the end of tail areas, including Karachi, “told Bilawal to the rally.” To date, not only has additional water have not been provided, but even the full share allocated has not been delivered, “he said, referring to the provisions of the Water Agreement , 1991.
He said that when he opposed the new industrial channels, he was fighting for Karachi’s rights and defended the rights of his business community. “The merchants of Karachi, the people of the Sindh and the whole nation should demand the implementation of the 1991 water agreement,” he said.
While discussing the public-private partnership mode introduced by the provincial government, Bilawal said that the Sindh was the only province where many projects under this model operated not only successfully and generating income, but had acquired international recognition.
“I want us to accelerate and advance this public-private partnership more,” he said. Referring to projects such as the Jirk-Mulla Katiar bridge, health care initiatives and Thar coal, he said that these are the main examples of good governance.
Stressing the potential for impact transformer of the public-private partnership mode, he called for stakeholders to offer “win-win” projects aimed at advancing green energy, upgrading infrastructure and Improvement of essential public services services.
“I want to explore more win-win opportunities of this nature, where the business world and the Sindh government work together to serve this province,” he added. “Working together can lead to better results,” said the PPP chief.
He said that in the event of privatization of the federal government depriving electricity distribution companies (nightclub), the Sindh government should withdraw them within the framework of the public-private partnership, adding that the work had already started on three projects And more projects would be launched in the next fiscal year.
Stressing the energy sector, Bilawal said that no other province had as much potential as the Sindh. He said that solar and wind parks could be established in each division of the province. He underlined the need for an increase in private investments in Sindh’s solar and energy sectors.
Bilawal appreciated the role of the business world in the development of Karachi and the country. He recognized the challenges encountered by the business world, but noted a significant improvement in the city’s situation compared to the conditions before 2008.
Speaking about investment opportunities in the province, Bilawal stressed that Sindh had as much coal as Saudi Arabia had oil. He stressed the importance of modern agriculture and invited the business world to associate with the Sindh government to promote smart agriculture.
“We want to introduce this initiative thanks to a collaboration between small farmers and the business world, so that we can increase crop yields, using modern techniques,” he said, adding that with support Global partners, Sindh’s first objective would be to benefit its farmers.
Stressing that the government would fully support partnerships between small farmers and private investors, Bilawal said: “We can improve the agricultural sector and strengthen our economy by developing robust infrastructure.”
Bilawal said that, being the most populous city in the country, Karachi had immense potential. He stressed that all the problems related to the public service services encountered by Karachi could be resolved through public-private partnerships.
The president of the PPP also said that he was favorable to a welfare state, and for that, “we must generate taxes” and increase income. He criticized the current tax regime by saying: “The way the tax system works, we can never succeed. Taxes have essentially become a form of extortion.”
He underlined the need to introduce tax reforms adapted to companies that have not bothered economic activity. He also noted that even if agriculture was already taxed – even if at a low rate – the highest taxpayer for agricultural taxes in Sindh was none other than the President Asif Zardari.
Bilawal stressed the need to focus on increasing income and tax collection. By giving an example, he said: “When the responsibility for the collection tax collection was given to Sindh, we got involved with people and obtained a record tax collection.”
“We want to be your partners. Do not see yourself as opponents but as an ally. I’m not here to play a short match; I’m here for long rounds. I plan to stay here in this city, and work for its improvement.
He underlined the Sindh government led by the PPP for the elimination of extortion and Karachi threats which allowed companies to function peacefully. However, he recognized that the challenges still existed but reiterated his commitment to resolve them.
He asked the chief minister Murad Ali Shah to create a special cell, including officials from the anti-corruption service and the police to combat the grievances of the Karachi business community. He urged commercial men to report complaints and appoint officials involved, instead of making general allegations.
Addressing merchants, he said: “I never asked for an extortion of you or asked for donations. Tell me today if you have complaints against me. My name or on behalf of my government? “”
He mentioned that providing job opportunities to his voters was part of his manifesto. In order for the public to have access to job opportunities, it said, it was essential that the economy of the country prosperous and that companies in the shopping community flourish.
Idrees Gigi, Atif Ikram, Fawad Anwer, Sultan Alana, Arif Habib, Javed Bilwani, Zubair Motiwala and Akeel Karim Dhedhi also discussed the rally. The event also attended Tariq Ikram, Dewan Yousuf, chief minister Murad Ali Shah; Provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Sharjeel Inam Memon, besides Nisar Khuhro, Senator Saleem Mandviwala, Dr. Ikhtiar Baig, Murtaza Wahab and others.
