ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro has assured business community of every possible help and assistance in rehabilitating and rebuilding of their enterprises destroyed in the loot and arson that took place following the tragic assassination Banazir Bhatto. Chairing a meeting of representatives of various Chambers of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, the Prime Minister hoped that the business community will be able to overcome the loss of an estimated to Rs 187 billion including Rs 87 billion of private sector in the loot and arson following the Liaquat Bagh tragedy.
Describing the industrialists and businessmen as invaluable assets of the country, he emphasised that the unparallel economic growth in manufacturing, export and revenues witnessed in the past eight years would not have been possible without the cooperation of the business community.
He assured that the issue of payment of compensation is under consideration and will be decided after assessment of the damages and losses. On the issue of load-shedding the Prime Minister assured that fix schedule of load-shedding will be observed from Wednesay (today). The meeting was however informed that the situation will be back to the pre-January position from the January 25 when more electricity will be available from hydel sources.
The Petroleum Minister informed the meeting that special arrangements have also been made for supply of natural gas to power generating and industrial units. He said that there has been a 55 percent increase in the natural gas network in the country in the last seven years with the number of consumers increasing from 3.46 million in 2000 to five million in 2007. He said that government has spent Rs 65 billion in the last seven years to expand the gas network. This facility is now available in 2550 cities, towns and villages as compared to 1177 cities, towns and villages in 2000.
The Prime Minister thanked the businessmen community for their patience and determination in the face of colossal losses suffered by them following unfortunate event of Liaquat Bagh. He appealed to the people to conserve gas and electricity as far as possible, so that supply to industrial and power generating units could be enhanced to achieve even higher production and exports and continued economic growth.
Earlier, the representatives of trade and industry informed about the details of losses suffered by them in the loot and plunder by certain elements especially in Karachi and the interior of Sindh following the tragic assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.-SANA
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