The Prime Minister had a clear message for the exporters and industrialists that the government will provide them facilities to help them face the new challenges and take Pakistan's exports to new heights.
He said Pakistan was financially on the verge of collapse in 1999 when the international donor agencies could impose their conditions for financial assistance. He said Musharraf-led government put in place a strategy based on reforms that worked well to make Pakistan's economy strong within a short span of time. Shaukat Aziz said if the government did not introduce the reforms, the dollar-rupee parity would have been 1:122 and its impact on the people's lives would have been devastating. He added that the government's policy of deregulation, privatisation and liberalisation was indeed a great success to keep the prices at an affordable level.
The Prime Minister acknowledged women's role in economic growth of the country, saying women were playing pivotal role in making Pakistan's economy. Their presence in large number in today's ceremony was indicative of changed mindset.
He said that like other sectors, exports have registered a cumulative growth of 60 percent over the last five years. He said the government took major steps to encourage exports. These included a stable macroeconomic environment, transparent and consistent policy framework,
The Prime Minister called upon the entrepreneurs to seize the moment, seek out new opportunities, and carve out their niches and strengths to make Pakistan economically more strong.