By our correspondent
KASUR: The Annual General Meeting 2025 of the Kasur Chamber of Commerce & Industry was held at Aiwan-e-Shah Jahan, Kasur, with Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan attending as Chief Guest.

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The meeting was also graced by Minister of State Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Provincial Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, Patron-in-Chief of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) S.M. Tanveer, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, and other distinguished dignitaries.
Addressing the participants, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that Pakistan, with a population of 250 million, still faces significant socio-economic challenges as a large portion of its population lives below the poverty line, while 90 percent of rural villages lack basic sanitation facilities.
He emphasized that industrial pollution and environmental degradation demand urgent attention and practical steps must be taken to ensure clean air and sustainable development.
The Speaker said that the business community serves as the backbone of the national economy. He noted that tax reforms and a reduction in energy tariffs have helped restore business confidence. With the formation of the current government, economic uncertainty has ended, IMF agreements have been finalized, and the economy is moving toward stability. He added that the time has come to achieve economic stability following political stability.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan stated that war is never a solution to any problem. “We desire peace, but we are always prepared to defend our country,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif are working tirelessly for national and provincial development and reforms.
Highlighting the need for proper utilization of national resources and funds, the Speaker said that improvement in the education sector is essential. “Currently, only 84 dollars are spent annually on a child’s education in Pakistan — an amount too low to ensure competitiveness at the international level,” he noted. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the FBR Chairman, urging that tax reforms be made more effective.
In conclusion, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that the industrial sector is the growth engine of the country and that the government highly values the guidance and cooperation of industrialists to strengthen the national economy on sustainable foundations.
