Syed Mazhar Nasir, Senior Vice-President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has said that the time has come to achieve absolute economic sovereignty for political stability and continuation of the democratic process in the country.

While addressing the participants after the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Federation House on August 14, he stressed the need for making an all-out effort on the part of one and all – as individuals and as parts of an independent nation state – for attaining financial independence, and suggested that the time had come to restore the self-esteem and self-respect of the citizens of Pakistan by exploring the economic potential of the country and reducing before ultimately eliminating dependence on foreign loans and aid packages.

He pointed out that the current turbulent state of Pakistan’s economy demands complete revitalization of the economy and the business community of the country could play a vital role in revitalizing the economy and therefore, it is important for the government to win the confidence of the business community to keep the wheels of economy moving. Strong economies need strong businesses and strong trade, and that requires an economic policy prepared by sharing the inputs from the business community which is the main stakeholder.

Mazhar Nasir said that the business community was fully aware of the challenges and the obstacles the new government was expected to face and were ready to extend all kind of help and assistance. So it would be appropriate to take the businessmen onboard so that collective solutions could be found, he pointed out.

He pointed out that the Independence Day reminds us of the historic struggle of our forefathers under the leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent where we could live according to our religious, cultural and social values. The day also demands an unwavering reiteration of commitment from us to follow the ideals of the Quaid and implement his ever-green principle of ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’ to overcome its challenges and make it a self-reliant, economically vibrant and prosperous state.

Syed Mazhar Nasir remarked that sovereignty is the absolute right of a country over itself, its governance, its resources and its ambitions without any interference from any outside source, be it an individual, an organisation or a state. This, he said, could only be done with the help of vibrant business community which is capable of developing indigenous resources to achieve economic independence.

“We are a productive and hardworking people and with the guidance provided by the national leadership, there is every likelihood that masses and the business community will together make tremendous and unprecedented progress in the days ahead,” he concluded.