BUSINESS
It has been an unspoken and yet an openly articulated dream of this nation to witness Pakistan as an industrial supreme power of South Asia and the world. However, with this dream, reality strikes us often in the form of barbarism, bad law and order situations and exploitation of prominent figures who are determined to do better for the country and its respective industries.
Our nation is habitual of listening to news that pertains to the harassment of businessmen and industry tycoons by numerous notorious and unidentifiable opportunists. It is of paramount significance that if we want Pakistan to become an industrial giant, then the key influencers be given the right platforms and opportunities, coupled with germane security against any relevant threats.
The situation is rather deplorable in Pakistan where a patriotic businessman or industrialist, who prefers his homeland over establishing a thriving business overseas, is often harassed and blackmailed in numerous manners by the black elements of the society. These businessmen put in all their investments and money to establish businesses to render the much needed boost to our industrial sector and to provide jobs to the youth and cater to the demands of our people via our very own resources.
Furthermore, such patriots are often victims of the aforementioned horrendous crimes, especially in Sindh, where such investments play a pivotal role in providing jobs, developing the much needed infrastructure, building supply chain systems, forward and backward integration, furnishing medical and housing assistance to the employees, and delivering a comprehensive, as well as desirable lifestyle to the workforce.
Pakistan needs to learn from the experience of other nations, who have moved forward by facilitating their businessmen. An encouraging environment must be created for the business community to put the country on track towards realising its true potential. In the 1970s, there was a global-orientation towards socialism, and many countries, including Pakistan embarked on the nationalised state enterprise model.
However, in subsequent decades, experimentation with various such models ultimately resulted in privatisation of business entrepreneurship as it was more productive and economically viable. As such, most of Pakistan’s nationalised banks and other institutions had to be privatised again.
In China, there were many state enterprises that were running. They were given to private entrepreneurs and they did go through a process of profit and loss but they ultimately became viable organisations.
Today China’s economy has outgrown the US economy with an annual GDP of $19.5 trillion. Similarly, the automobile industry in the US suffered a huge setback many years ago. The US government bailed out these companies with injections of billions of dollars. Today they are all commercially viable and are even more competitive than the Japanese automobile companies.
In India, the state closely controlled the economy. Then they started giving protection to the businessmen and supporting them. Big business houses were created and the Indian economy turned around. Today India’s nominal GDP is worth a little over two trillion dollars; while Pakistan’s annual GDP is just over two billion dollars. The Indian government gave their businessmen a conducive environment to work in. Their business people went through losses but the government bailed them out. The same thing happened in South Korea.
The lesson is when there is a need to support the economy, a lot of wheels need to be turned. Pakistan needs to learn from the experience of other countries. If our industrialist gets stuck, rather than providing them a favourable environment, we pressurise them.
Given the general framework of industries, it is understandable that a business giant will have numerous suppliers to run operations and render a final product or service. These businesses and their respective suppliers execute their operations based on a mutually agreed set of actions and protocols. However, given the uncertain circumstances that often pounce on our economy and industrial sector, those protocols compel the businesses to shift from their mutually agreed set of actions. The previously mentioned aspect often plays a grave role in making the suppliers hostile towards the businesses as their own gains are likely to be jeopardised.
It is not a negative practice to safeguard one’s interest but one must be utterly cautious regarding the means that are used to safeguard it. The suppliers often resort to unlawful acts to get their points across and attain a desirable outcome. The unethical practices, use of strong arm tactics, threatening phone calls and use of paid outlaws are all the malicious options the suppliers end up resorting to. In numerous instances, even the rough elements in the law enforcement agencies, predominantly police officials, seek monetary refuge in the ongoing tussle between the business owners and suppliers by showcasing themselves amongst the stakeholders that are being affected.
The areas of Karachi, such as SITE, Korangi, Bin Qasim, Nooriabad, etc, are the industrial hub with respect to location and at the same time are extremely dangerous and vulnerable for business officials.
The government and the concerned authorities are humbly urged to take necessary measures. The malignant and unethical practices that pressurise the businessmen must stop.
If a handful of businesses that are still willing to run operations on their home soil are constantly harassed and blackmailed, then those days are not far when Pakistan will be dependent on only farmers and sheer imports. These businessmen and their market insights are integral components of Pakistan’s economy and measures must be taken to ensure that they continue to operate in Pakistan.
The government must provide security to the industrialists and enable an environment that is conducive to growth, profits and prosperity and is free from any external dangers and harmful acts. The government must form a committee to investigate the complaints that have been filed by the industrialists and take necessary action against the culprits. The police officials involved in the blackmailing of businessmen must be suspended with immediate effect. Most importantly, the government should play the role of a mediator between the industrialists/businessmen and the suppliers.
Our businessmen are a vital part of the economy and we must take care of them.
The writer is a freelancer
