LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Saturday termed local and foreign investors national heroes for braving security challenges to invest in Pakistan, warning that terrorism remains a major impediment to economic growth and investor’s confidence.
Speaking to the media after inaugurating the 10th Pakistan Industrial Expo here, he said economic activity could not flourish in an environment of insecurity, noting that even a single terrorist attack disrupts the business climate and triggers volatilityin the stock market.
‘Terrorism is a criminal activity, not a political issue. Those who take up arms cannot claim to be engaged in politics,’ Mr Khan said, adding that while the country was facing the consequences of past policy decisions, the government, armed forces, and people were determined to eliminate the menace after decades of violence.
Commenting on the worsening air quality in the province, the speaker praised the environmental measures taken by the Punjab government, saying they were heading in the right direction. However, he cautioned that smog could not be eradicated overnight and required a sustained, long-term strategyinvolving the state, citizens, and businesses. He said even if we adopt the ‘Beijing model,’ introducing drastic measures to control smog, it would take at least 10 years to control it.
On regional affairs, Mr Khan said Pakistan desired peaceful, normal relations with India and harboured no inherent hostility towards the Indian people.
However, he identified the Indian government’s Hindutva ideology and anti-Pakistan policies as major sources of bilateral tension.
While welcoming dialogue, trade, and people-to-people contact based on equality and mutual respect, he stressed that Pakistan would firmly defend its sovereignty against any viola-tion, referring to the country’s response to the events of May 10.
Addressing the constitutional debate surrounding the creation of new provinces and public referendums, the speaker observed that a direct expression of public will raises important questions regarding the authority of elected legislatures. He called for an open democratic dialogue to carefully examine the relationship between a direct public mandate and the constitutional powers of Parliament and provincial assemblies.
Underscoring the oversight role of legislatures, he said assemblies must ensure constitutional supremacy and hold public institutions accountable for how taxpayer money is spent.