Getting to benefit from CPEC is our choice:
Irfan Ahmed Allahwala
-By Muhammad Salahuddin
Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) is aimed at spreading knowledge and creating avenues for business community so that they do credible and halal business. Irfan Ahmed who is serving as the head of Karachi chapter for over one and a half year talked to Engineering Review on a variety of issues as regards business atmosphere in Pakistan.
“PBF is a part of International Business Forum (IBF) formed in collaboration with Turkey while Farooq Leghari was the president. It was Qazi Hussain Ahmed’s vision that trade between Muslim countries should be encouraged.” The very first moot of the IBF took place in Pakistan and then President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari and Turkish Prime Minister Najamuddin Arbakan participated in the conference, he recalled.
The IBF meets every year and it is mandatory to hold a conference in Turkey every alternate year, we are trying to bring it to Pakistan. PBF participates in the IBF conference every year and business community from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad travel to join it regularly.
Recently, PFB organized a Family Expo & National Talent Award in Expo Center Karachi. It was meant to appreciate the people and businessmen who have distinctively contributed in their fields. We generated Rs.1 million from this program and donated it to Bethak School Program. There were around 100 stalls in the exhibition. We wish to replicate it every year so that we appreciate the people who serve Pakistan.
Also, we have been organizing seminars on the issues concerning the business community. Besides, the forum is striving to become a bridge between the government and business community for addressing the issues that hamper business in Pakistan.
ER: What are the major issues that you think Pakistani business is facing at the moment?
IA: The biggest issue that our economy is facing is that our exports are low and the imports are high. This imbalance is a big issue. Thus, Pakistani business has become uncompetitive which stems from the unavailability of trained human resource in the country. We are lacking in skilled human resource and thus it affects the business. Then, uninterrupted power supply is an issue. Acquiring land for industry is yet another issue and is an expensive affair. Right from power tariff to setting up industrial unit is so expensive that it hikes the cost of doing business. Resultantly, we become uncompetitive in the international market.
ER: You think the government has been unsuccessful in bringing the cost of doing business down? What would you like to suggest in this respect?
IA: I believe we are not good managers. Management is one of the major lacking in the country. Yes,there are individual cases of good management and such people are doing very good business.
On the government side, we want clarity in terms of economic policies and plans for doing business in the country.
ER: Do you think our universities are not producing good engineers and business managers?
IA: Personally, I don’t have experience of the universities in this respect neither do I have any such research but my personal experience with a fresh engineer from a known government university made me realize that there is a quality education issue with the universities.
The basic thing is what we teach in our universities and what we require now. The courses may have become irrelevant in the face to modern requirements. It is not only the government but also the business community who has to communicate today’s requirements.
ER: Does PBF have any plans to bring academia and business community closer?
IA: Honestly speaking no. But I believe we should do that also.
ER: Many people say Pakistan is becoming a consumer society and manufacturing is coming to an end. Do you think is it happening? What would you suggest to encourage local manufacturing?
IA: Look, it is money that does everything. If we envisage new viable business models for the business community, it would work. Also, when we talk about consumer society, it indicates a business opportunity. Our buying power is increasing. If we see we are consuming products then we may start manufacturing at local levels. If it is a good quality product, we can export also.
ER: What are your views on CPEC?
IA: The people are confused. It is basically Chinese investment which covers the whole region. It is part of One Belt One Road under which they have signed agreements with Pakistan. Chinese used to invest in the US and now they are investing in capital goods around the world. They developed their economy and now expanding it to the world. They are giving loans which will benefit them. They will have an edge. They will have cheaper access to markets world over. If we get to benefit from these loans which are cheaper then we can develop.
ER: Does CPEC benefit the business community?
IA: It depends on the government if it makes investments in the areas which bolster business in Pakistan. The government may invest in power generation and communication networks.
Chinese have closed all such industries which incur losses to them. Thus such industry may be beneficial for the countries around and it depends how they catch the opportunity.
ER: When are you planning to bring IBF to Pakistan?
IA: We intend to do it in 2019. We shall do it with Turkish business organization and it would be held under government umbrella. Normally, over 30 countries participate in the conference through their delegations.
