A delegation of National Press Club Islamabad led by its President Anwar Raza visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to congratulate the new Office Bearers.

Addressing the delegation, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan's economy is currently facing great challenges, but frequent adventurism by various stakeholders in the Capital to register their protest, which badly affects the business activities, causes great losses the business community and creates serious hardships for the citizens. He said that once again talks of a long march to Islamabad has created great concerns in the business community. He demanded the government to allocate a separate venue for any protest outside Islamabad so that the business community can be saved from further damages and the economy may not suffer more. He proposed that ICCI and the National Press Club should jointly prepare policy papers and recommendations for the improvement of the economy that should be shared with the government to formulate business-friendly policies.

He further said that ICCI has taken discounts for its members from various hospitals, laboratories and other institutions including schools and colleges and efforts will be made to provide the same facilities to the members of the National Press Club. He emphasized that the journalist community should cooperate in highlighting the important problems of the business community to draw the attention of the government to address them.

Anwar Raza, President, National Press Club Islamabad said that NPC has already organized a successful All Parties Conference for Revival of Economy in collaboration with ICCI and it would take more initiatives in cooperation with Chamber for the betterment of business and economic activities.

Afzal Butt, President, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said that the citizens of Islamabad also have rights just like the rights of other stakeholders. However, farmers, civil servants, religious and political parties often come to Islamabad for protest, which affects the rights of the citizens of Islamabad and also damages the businesses. He said that due to this situation, students are also becoming psychiatric patients because the roads of Islamabad are often blocked due to protests, while the patients have to face serious problems. He demanded the government to make Islamabad free from all kinds of protests. He said that the economic policy of the country should be decided in the meeting of the National Security Council as all the stakeholders are present in it. He said that decision of economic policy from NSC will ensure continuation of policy with the change of government and no finance minister will change it at will.

Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, National Press Club Secretary General Raja Khalil, Vice President Azhar Jatoi, Finance Secretary Nayyar Ali, Tariq Chaudhry, Former President FPCCI Daru Khan, Vice President FPCCI Qazi Akbar, Jhelum Chamber of Commerce and Industry group leader Raja Anwar, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion.

Both sides agreed to work together to protect the interests of the business and the journalist communities and improve the economy so that Pakistan can be taken out of difficulties and put on the path of progress and growth.