Pakistan France Business Alliance organized a discussion session on "The Economic Challenges faced by the New Government" on 27 May with Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Ex-Governor of State Bank and one of the most prominent Economic experts in the country, as the key-note speaker.
This brain-storming session was very well attended by PFBA members, businessmen, bankers and diplomats. It provided an occasion to the audience to benefit from the assessment of Dr. Ishrat Hussain of the main Economic problems facing the country and the type of solutions that people would expect from the new government that will take over.
After the address of Dr. Ishrat Hussain, a lively question-answer session ensued in which questions were asked on many issues ranging from IMF bail-out to the competence level of the future economic team.
The President of PFBA, Mr. Jamil Hamdani, briefly enumerated the economic problems which are most acutely felt by those who run the industries, banks, and businesses. Among the main issues Mr. Hamdani listed the energy shortage, current account deficit, weak Rupee, insecurity, lack of transparency in public contracts and incompetent economic diplomacy. Mr. Hamdani stressed that people of Pakistan in general and the business community in particular was rightly expecting an economic road-map from the future government.
At the end Mr. Saeed Allahwala, thanked the distinguished chief guest for sparing his time for this session and thanked the audience for the keen interest showed in the discussion.