Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called for political consensus in Pakistan on economic policies, adding that the continuity of these policies would ensure sustainable development in the country.
Addressing members of the Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Islamabad, the president asked the business community to highlight sector-specific problems and their solutions and press politicians to forge consensus on them.
There should be consensus at least for the next ten years to realise the objective of economic development and prosperity, Zardari said.
Zardari also asked businessmen to organise an All Parties Conference on economic issues and promised to attend any such meeting.
He said that when the present government came to power in 2008‚ the economic condition of the country was deplorable.
Zardari said stocks had taken a beating while foreign exchange reserves had fallen to just $4 billion (Dh14.6 billion) while terrorism had almost crippled law and order in the country.
He said that the government took a number of steps to improve the country’s economic condition and increase resources of the provinces.
However, the president that while provinces had been allocated more resources, they were yet to shoulder their responsibilities in driving economic development.
Zardari said Pakistan has the potential to grow and develop and “we have to tap this potential before asking our friends to help the country”
He‚ however‚ pointed out that the international community ought to help Pakistan as it is fighting a war that was left behind in Afghanistan by the world community.
