Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) believes in freedom of press.
“Media plays key role in the continuity of democracy and political stability in the country,” he said during a meeting with a delegation of journalists from Police Inspection Magazine at the Governor’s House here on Wednesday.
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider said PPP has always struggled for autonomy and rule of law of institutions, adding that a responsible media not only identifies the problems of the society but also promotes democratic values.
He said politicians and journalists have close relationship. Punjab Governor affirmed PPP’s unwavering support for the journalist community, reaffirming the party’s longstanding solidarity with media professionals. Sardar Saleem Haider said PPP will always take steps for the welfare and protection of journalists.
Punjab Governor said the journalists from the Police Inspection Magazine have highlighted the people-friendly measures of the police through positive journalism. He said that peace has been maintained in Punjab due to the sacrifices of the police martyrs. He said that the police personnel perform their professional responsibilities as sacred trust. He mentioned that the newly constructed model police stations in Punjab have transformed police stations into welcoming spaces, showcasing a more approachable and community-oriented police force.
Separately, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said on Wednesday that Governor’s House serves as a facilitation centre for the business community and will continue to provide all possible support to businesses.
He added that lack of trust between government and business community must end, because policies cannot be effective unless traders are consulted in the policy-making process. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol delivered the welcome address, while Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh and former SVP Khalid Usman, Executive Committee members Aamir Saeed Mian, Muneeb Monnoo, Rana Nisar, Karamat Awan, Sheikh Fayyaz, Umar Sarfraz, Ali Imran, Abdul Majeed, Imran Saleemi, Amna Randhawa, Firdous Nisar, and Ahad Amin Malik were also present.
The Governor said, the government should formally consult the business community when making economic policies. He said that if policies are made with traders’ input, tax collection would also improve significantly. He added that he would meet the Finance Minister and the Chairman of the PPP to present the concerns of the business community.
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol said that biggest challenge facing the country today is the cost of doing business, citing that compared to other regional countries, Pakistan has the highest costs of electricity, gas, interest rates, and taxes, which have hurt the business environment. He added that Pakistan is also far behind in the global ease-of-doing-business rankings. Removing exporters from the final tax regime has damaged the export sector, while the rise in federal excise duty and raw material cost is forcing multinational companies to leave Pakistan.
He claimed that tax reforms were introduced without consultation with traders, which caused losses to the business community. He suggested focusing on skill development instead of only giving cash assistance under the Benazir Income Support Programme. He also called for a new agriculture policy to meet the country’s food requirements.
He added that Bangladesh’s garment exports have reached 40 billion dollars, while Pakistan’s textile exports, despite being the main sector, have failed to cross 17 billion dollars. He said that political stability is essential for economic progress, and at this stage, Pakistan needs moral and ethical reforms even more than economic reforms. He also proposed forming a ten-year economic plan.
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider said that the Benazir Income Support Programme has played an important role in reducing poverty, and skill development projects are also underway under the programme. He said that Pakistan is facing a difficult situation because institutions were not reformed with time. However, he expressed hope that through collective efforts, Pakistan can be turned into a strong country.