Islamabad, JUL 22 /DNA/ – Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan stressed for engaging women in entrepreneurial and economic activities to make Pakistan a progressive country. He said that Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other chambers should play a role to encourage women towards entrepreneurship and increase employment ratio of women in the private sector by providing them a secure workplace environment. He said that society should change its mindset to facilitate women in the mainstream of economy so that they could play a more effective role in the economic development of the country. He said this while addressing as Chief Guest at 5^th ICCI Business Excellence Awards 2022 ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad. He congratulated all the awardees and wished them good luck.

Dr. Arif Alvi said that the government should cooperate with ICCI in setting up a new industrial zone in the federal capital to promote industrialization and exports. He said that the business class was promoting innovations in society and the bureaucracy should make fast decisions to facilitate them in promotion of business and investment activities. He further said that the chambers of commerce & industry should collaborate with universities in research projects to promote skilled and knowledgeable human resources to help Pakistan emerge as a knowledge economy.

In his welcome address, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that the purpose of organizing the awards ceremony was to recognize the contribution of best performers in the business field. He said that industrialization could pave the way for accelerated economic growth and stressed that the government should cooperate with ICCI in acquiring land for a new industrial estate in the region to boost industrialisation, investment and exports. He proposed that the ICCI sitting President should be made a Board Member of Islamabad Club. He urged that the government should reduce high taxes imposed through a new budget on real estate and other sectors to facilitate the growth of business activities. He felicitated the award winners and wished them more achievements in future.

Khalid Iqbal Malik, Chairman Founder Group said that Pakistan has the potential to take its annual exports up to US$ 40 billion provided the right policies were in place for business and industrial sectors. He said that the government should establish an Expo Centre in Islamabad on the pattern of Expo Centres of Karachi and Lahore to display products of this region and improve their trade and exports. He congratulated the award winners and wished them to achieve more milestones in future.

Dr. Arif Alvi, Chief Guest conferred awards to the award winners. Shafiq Akbar Imarat Group and Yasir Khan Niazi Dr Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital received the first and second award respectively.