ISLAMABAD – Renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has given anadvice for reducing the trade deficit of the country.
He has called upon the private sector to focus on producing importssubstitutions in the country that would reduce trade deficit and give boostto industrial activities as well.
He was addressing business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamberof Commerce & Industry. He said that business community was playing keyrole in the economic development of the country and bringing billions ofdollars in the country through exports, therefore, government shouldresolve its problems on priority basis. He said that Pakistan was endowedwith so much natural resources that with implementation of good governance,it could move ahead of Turkey and Malaysia in five years in terms ofeconomic development
Dr. A.Q. Khan said that the government has taken initiative to build newdams which was laudable. However, he said that along with building dams,government should focus on building artificial lakes in the country as ashort-term strategy. He said large quantity of rain water was being lostevery year which also caused floods in the country. He said best short-termsolution to store water was to construct artificial lakes in the countrythat would also help in coping with floods and store water for agriculture.He stressed that government should complete its gas pipeline network up tothe border of Iran so that whenever sanctions were lifted on Iran, Pakistancould start importing gas from Iran. It would help fertilizer industry inproducing more fertilizer and rid the country of fertilizer import to saveprecious forex reserves. He said that Pakistan’s civil service structurehad rotten and added that he was ready to help the government in bringingreforms in civil service system. He said he was building a 300 bed 7 storeywelfare hospital in Lahore and business community should cooperate incompletion of that project.
In his welcome address, Sheikh Amir Waheed paid rich tribute to theinvaluable services of Dr. A.Q. Khan for the nation. He said he madePakistan the first Islamic nuclear power which was an honor not only forPakistan, but for the whole Muslim Ummah. He also lauded Dr. A.Q. Khan forpatronizing many welfare projects in health and education field in thecountry assured that business community would cooperate with him in suchactivities.
Muhammad Naveed Malik Senior Vice President and Nisar Mirza Vice President,Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry thanked Dr. A.Q. Khan for visitingICCI and assured of their support in his welfare projects. Zubair AhmedMalik Chairman Founder Group, Khalid Iqbal Malik & Muhammad Ejaz Abbasiformer Presidents ICCI and others also spoke at the occasion the paidtribute to the services of Dr. A.Q. Khan for the country.