ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari on Tuesday urged all segments of the society to work with enthusiasm and reconciliation, which is inevitable in the current socio-economic conditions of the country.
He said this during his visit to the National Press Club (NPC) along with the ICCI delegation. “The need of the hour was for all institutions including parliament, media and business communities to work together for the development of the country,” he said, adding that all segments should work to solve the prevailing economic problems facing the country.
The delegation met the first NPC office bearers who are President Azhar Jatoi Khan, Secretary General Nayar Ali, Finance Minister Waqar Abbasi and others. Bakhtawari expressed his best wishes to the new office bearers at the club and hoped that the new body would work to develop the community and enhance the country’s positive image; is the largest club of journalists in the whole country.
He said that ICCI would extend its full support to the NPC in solving the prevailing problems in the country, adding that the role of media is important in building a positive image of the country in the world. The NPC should also play its role in keeping all decision-making bodies, whether in the opposition or in the ruling set-up, on par as one matter of national interest.
While developing the relationship between media and business, the ICCI president said that both are equally important to each other, adding that the chamber plans to start some development projects in the city such as schools and hospitals that will equally benefit journalists.
United Business Group (UBG) Secretary General Zafar Bakhtawri recalled that Pakistani journalists have made many sacrifices in the performance of their professional duties and added that real journalists have created a special space and respect among us all.
Speaking on the occasion, President Jatoi thanked the ICCI delegation and reiterated that he would cooperate with ICCI, adding that both businessmen and journalists are currently facing problems due to the poor economic conditions of the country. “We have to make a concerted effort to get the country back on track,” he said.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt said that NPC has a dynamic and long-term relationship with ICCI. He said the chamber has always supported the press club through and through.
The ICCI delegation includes Khalid Chauhdry, Naveed Malik, Saif Ur Rehman Khan, Nisar Mirza, Ishfq Chatta, Wasim Chauhdry, Babar Chaudhry, Naseeb Ilahi, Imtiaz Abbasi, Abbas Hashmi, Nasir Chauhdry, Amir Hamza and Zia Chauhdry.
