Industrialists urge customised financing, infrastructure overhaul

Leading industrialists have presented proposals to bolster the national economy to the upcoming government. Their recommendations include introducing a customised low-cost financing scheme, evolving an urban and consistent industrial policy, revamping crumbling road infrastructure, and implementing a one-window operation, among other initiatives. Speaking to the Express Tribune about expectations from the upcoming elected government after the 2024 general poll, business leaders stressed the need for a customised low-cost financing scheme specifically for the construction of industrial units in the small and medium-sized sector. They highlighted the significance of SMEs as the backbone of any country. President of the Site Association of Industry (SAI), Muhammad Kamran Arbi, stressed the importance of proper utility services for industrial operations. He called for the upcoming government to address utility issues, including gas, electricity, and water, with regionally competitive rates and improved services to support economic growth. Arbi suggested the establishment of a mechanism for a one-window operation to streamline interactions with the more than 65 federal and provincial departments that impact industrialists, traders, and investors throughout the year.