ISLAMABAD:Dr Nauman Idris Butt, former President, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and United Business Group’s Presidential candidate for FPCCI on Thursday said that Sialkot was contributing 10 percent to Pakistan’s total exports with annual exports of $2.5 billion and the share of exports would be further enhanced to improve Pakistan’s forex reserves and revive the economy.
He was addressing business community here at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). Group leader of Sialkot CCI Riaz ud Din Sheikh also accompanied him.
Dr Nauman Idris Butt said that apart from promoting exports, business community of Sialkot have made useful contribution to the development of local economy by establishing dry port and airport on self-finance basis while they were now making efforts to launch an airline. He said the experience of Sialkot’s private sector should be replicated across the country to accelerate economic growth.
Commenting on his future plans, he said that FPCCI would be further strengthened and resolving key issues of business community of the country would be high on his priorities to create conducive environment for private sector. He said government should foster entrepreneurial spirit in the country for early revival of economy.
Speaking at the occasion, Rafat Farid, Senior Vice President, ICCI congratulated Dr Nauman Idris Butt on being nominated by UBG for President’s slot of FPCCI. He said ICCI has always supported UGB and would continue to support its candidates in future as well.
He said nomination of Dr Nauman Idris Butt by UGB was the best choice as he had rendered useful services for business community as former President SCCI and had eliminated child labor from Sialkot that brought good name for Pakistan.
He hoped that if elected as President FPCCI, he would take all trade bodies and associations on board and will consult them in finalizing policies for the government.
Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice President ICCI, Sheikh Abdul Waheed Vice President FPCCI, Riaz ud Din Sheikh Group Leader SCCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik Chairman Founder Group, Abdul Rauf Chairman North UBG, Zafar Bakhtawari Vice Chairman North UBG, Mian Akram Farid, Tariq Sadiq, Khalid Iqbal Malik, Mian Shaukat Masud, Nasir Qureshi, Ch Waheed ud Din, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and expressed full support for Dr Nauman Idris Butt.