The issue of Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s meeting with more
than 100 businessmen of the country has become a topic of discussion.
Some circles are describing it as an attempt to put the country’s economy
on the right track, while some circles are criticizing the meeting. The Army
Chief on Sunday first held meetings in Karachi and then in Lahore with
leading and big business personalities of the country. ISPR, the
spokesperson of the Pakistan Army, did not issue any statement regarding
this meeting, but the business leaders participating in this meeting have
confirmed the meeting with the Army Chief. Kashif Anwar, president of the
Lahore Chamber of Commerce, who was involved in the meeting, says that
the meeting was held at the Corps Headquarters in Lahore, in which the
Army Chief expressed confidence in the businessmen and asked them for
suggestions regarding the country’s economy. Talking to Voice of America,
Kashif Anwar said that first the army chief addressed the businessmen and
then listened to their suggestions. According to him, Punjab Chief Minister
Mohsin Naqvi was also present in the meeting. Kashif Anwar said that in
the meeting, he conveyed the position of the traders to the Army Chief. It
should be noted that this is not the first time that the Pakistani army chief
has met the business community. Earlier, former Army Chief General
Qamar Javed Bajwa has also been holding informal meetings with
businessmen and journalists. Kashif Anwar further said that he also raised
the issue of the dollar rate difference in the inter-bank and open market
before the Army Chief. He said that he told the Army Chief that if
the leaders want the foreign exchange to come to Pakistan, then this
difference should be eliminated. Kashif Anwar said that he told the Army
Chief that he should take some steps to make the grey economy a part of
the white economy. In this regard, if they do not do anything practically, the
economy of the country will not be able to improve. According to Kashif
Anwar, the Army Chief said in his address that there is a difference of two
to three levels between the grey economy and the white economy of
Pakistan, which has to be eliminated. According to Kashif Anwar, the Army
Chief in his address said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council
(SIFC) is not only for foreign businessmen and investors but local people of
Pakistan can also benefit from SIFC. According to Kashif Anwar, he has
told the Army Chief that elections should not be held until the political
parties agree on the Charter of Economy. Economist Dr. Khaqan Najeeb
believes that positive results will come only if everyone takes steps in the
right direction to get the country out of the vortex of bad economic
conditions. Speaking to Voice of America, he said that the country currently
has a caretaker government with a limited mandate, so the army chief
thought it appropriate to meet the businessmen to end the atmosphere of
uncertainty. According to him, the army chief has also given the impression
that the army will support the incoming government in every project of
economic recovery. Khaqan Najeeb says that all classes in Pakistan have
to work forward, if there is work in the right direction in five years, the
country’s economy can improve. Khaqan Najeeb says that it appears that
the establishment is trying to take some practical steps to fix the country’s
economy and economic system. (translated from Urdu, Voice of America)
