QUETTA: Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has proposed an economic manifesto to steer the country out of current economic and administrative crises.

The 25-point manifesto was announced by the PBF Balochistan Chapter Vice Chairperson Zubaida Jalal on Friday.

PBF suggested that all stakeholders, including political leadership, economists and bureaucrats must agree on a charter of economy to save the nation from the worst financial crisis.

She said that two important actions needed to bring the country out of the crisis were increasing exports and expanding the tax base.

According to the manifesto, investment in the industry will ensure revenue for the government, employment for youth and profit for entrepreneurs, a win-win situation for everyone.

The government should prioritise industrialisation first and then real estate.

She said the business forum also suggested creating links between industry and academia through a new curriculum and mandating universities to teach entrepreneurship.

Besides, it demanded the provision of plots in industrial estates with easy instalments and the setting up of arbitration centres in every district to settle business disputes.

The PBF vice chairperson demanded that the IT and agriculture sectors be given industry status.

She also advocated the abolition of prize bonds and demonetisation of Rs5,000 currency notes so that the money could be channelled into businesses and corruption could be eradicated.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023