By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: A high-level meeting on international import and export challenges faced by the business community was held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), chaired by Chairman Standing Committee on Export and Import, Mian Shoaib Batalvi.
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During the session, Vice Chairman Mian Sohail Ahmed Taj and other business leaders paid glowing tributes to DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir for their courage and leadership amid the Pakistan-India tensions. The entire business community stood up in unison to express their admiration and unwavering support for COAS General Asim Munir.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Shoaib Batalvi said the positive image of Pakistan is gaining global recognition due to the joint efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir. He said the recent visit of the Field Marshal to the United States is expected to yield productive outcomes, especially in boosting bilateral trade. “Business with the US will help increase Pakistan’s exports,” he noted.
He emphasized the urgent need for measures to strengthen Pakistan’s exports. “First and foremost, staff in all export-related institutions must be given specialized training so that our exporters can timely dispatch consignments and bring valuable foreign exchange into the country,” he added.
Batalvi said initiatives like the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) have already started showing results, and Central Asian states are a clear example. He lauded the efforts of the National Logistics Council for creating trade ease with Central Asia and China.
He stressed that 18 different government departments and trade counselors posted in Pakistani embassies abroad must be properly trained to facilitate exporters and importers. “I am even willing to offer free services for such training,” he said.
Criticizing past governments, Batalvi said the PIA ban in Europe was a deliberate act of economic sabotage. “Due to this ban, Pakistani exporters are now dependent on foreign airlines,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the Field Marshal’s US visit will bring strategic trade benefits and that Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the Iran conflict will contribute to regional peace, ultimately helping trade and commerce thrive.
Special attention was given to the concerns of importers and exporters during the session. Mian Shoaib Batalvi called the import-export sector the backbone of the national economy and said the committee has been striving to resolve business community issues for the past six months.
Addressing the meeting, Muaz Afzal Chaudhry said that imports, like exports, form the backbone of the country’s economy. He emphasized the need for year-round trade with neighboring countries, especially China, and noted that resolving importers’ issues would help drive economic growth.
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