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ISLAMABAD: Businessmen and economic analysts on Sunday expressed grave concerns over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) call ahead of the highly anticipated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, urging the party leadership to reconsider and postpone their decision.<\/p>\n
As the foreign dignitaries are set to arrive in Islamabad to attend the SCO moot, the former ruling party had announced holding another protest at the federal capital’s D-Chowk on October 15.<\/p>\n
PTI spokesperson also announced that all district-level protests were suspended given the forthcoming demonstration in the federal capital next week.<\/p>\n
The Imran Khan-founded party had launched a series of protests for the “independence of the judiciary” \u2014 as the government aims to introduce constitutional amendments \u2014 and for the release of its founder jailed at Rawalpindi\u2019s Adiala Jail for more than one year.<\/p>\n
Talking to state news channel PTV, economists slammed PTI”s protest call during the SCO summit as “self-destructive,” citing concerns over economic instability and damage to Pakistan’s global image.<\/p>\n
The business community in Islamabad stressed that the SCO conference was an important platform to promote regional economic cooperation and hoped that PTI would reconsider the decision to protest for the country\u2019s national interest.<\/p>\n
Renowned economist Dr Noor Fatima said: “This move will undermine Pakistan”s credibility in the international community. We need to focus on economic diplomacy, not political posturing.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The SCO conference is an opportunity to strengthen our ties with regional countries,\u201d she emphasised.<\/p>\n
Industrialist Mirza Ikhtiar Baig warned that PTI’s call might jeopardise the country\u2019s chances of benefiting from this platform.<\/p>\n
“The SCO conference is critical for Pakistan’s economic revival. The protest call will only create uncertainty and deter foreign investors,” he said, adding that Pakistan needs to showcase its \u201ceconomic potential, not its political divisions\u201d.<\/p>\n
‘Economic interests first’<\/h2>\n
Meanwhile, the business community also urged the Imran Khan-founded party to take back its protest call, saying that it was the right time for the country to focus on its economic prowess and not on “divisive politics\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must put our economic interests first. This move will have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s economy ” said a trader in Islamabad.<\/p>\n
“The SCO conference is crucial for regional trade facilitation, which could be disrupted by the former ruling party,\u201d another trader in Lahore said,<\/p>\n
Muhammad Fahim, president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, \u201cPTI\u2019s call has created uncertainty among traders. We are worried about the impact on our businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, Jameel Paracha, a trader at the Karachi Wholesale Market, said this was not the right time for politics, but rather stability to boost the economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge PTI to reconsider their decision \u2014 our businesses can\u2019t afford more instability.\u201d Khawaja Shahbaz, president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry contended.<\/p>\n
Ayesha Khurram, president of Islamabad Women\u2019s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. \u201cWe need to prioritise economic growth over political interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n