Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, Chairman Senate said that the business community is playing a key role in the economic development of the country and ICCI members would be included in the Senate’s foreign delegations so that they could explore new markets of promoting Pakistan’s exports. He further said that the business community should focus on Africa, ASEAN and other potential regions to improve Pakistan’s trade and exports. He said that the business community should focus on non-traditional items to enhance exports of the country. He said this while exchanging views with a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry that called on him led by President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari. Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Deputy Chairman Senate was also present at the occasion.

Chairman Senate said that flourishing business and investment would enable the economy to grow strong and reiterated that he would cooperate with ICCI in resolving the key issues of the business community. Talking about the closure of Centaurus Mall, he said that he fully supports its opening and said that he would soon talk to the Federal Minister for Interior to resolve this issue amicably. He said that ICCI should cooperate with the Senate of Pakistan in celebrating its golden jubilee celebrations in a befitting manner.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that being upper house of the parliament, Senate has key role in legislation and requested that ICCI should be given representation in business related Standing Committees of Senate including Commerce, Finance, Planning & Development, Industries & Production. It would help to make business friendly laws in consultation with the business community to make Pakistan an attractive destination for business and investment activities. He said that ICCI members should also be included in Senate Chairman’s foreign delegations to explore new avenues of promoting Pakistan’s exports. He requested that the Senate Chairman should cooperate in resolving the key issues of the business community to promote ease of doing business. He said that many foreign delegations often visit the Senate of Pakistan and ICCI members should be connected with them to explore new prospects of promoting Pakistan’s business and economic interests. He assured that ICCI would cooperate with the Senate of Pakistan in celebrating its golden jubilee celebrations.

Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik, Zafar Bakhtawari, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Rana Qaiser Shehzad, Muhammad Yahya, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed for the need of close cooperation between Senate of Pakistan and ICCI to facilitate the private sector in promotion of business and investment activities in the country.