Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain said on Monday that friendly relations between all the neighbouring countries are necessary to lift the people of the region out of poverty. He said that improved relations with neighbouring countries are required to resolve disputes so the country can develop.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that prolonged tensions between neighbours are not in anyone’s interest as differences hinder peace and progress. Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that Pakistan should improve its relations with India, Iran and Afghanistan and increase cooperation with China to improve the country’s image globally, develop tourism, and attract foreign investors.

Presently, it is difficult to do business in the risky Pakistani market, barring national development, he said, adding that economic and financial performance can only improve once local and international political affairs improve.

The business leader said that if relations with neighbouring countries improve, terrorism can end in Pakistan, allowing development projects to move faster while costs decrease.

Mian Zahid Hussain said the new government must defeat poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and backwardness. In contrast, the tax system has to be balanced, and the energy cost has to be reduced. The country’s exports and local production will suffer, and we must import everything.

He observed that huge loans must be taken to finance imports, which could be more sustainable.

He said that after the elections, the new government will have to accept the challenge of ensuring peace, development and economic prosperity.

Mian Zahid Hussain further said that those who brought the country to this state have yet to be properly identified, nor are they being held accountable. The government’s commitment to increase exports to 100 billion dollars is feasible and laudable. Still, it is impossible in the presence of current energy prices, their continuous increase and increasing dependence on direct taxes. He said that Export policy must be completely changed from top to bottom to increase exports.