LAHORE: During a meeting with Punjab’s industrialists and business community, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, emphasized the need for economic decentralization and robust public-private partnerships to fuel Pakistan’s economic growth.

Addressing the gathering, Bilawal highlighted the importance of leveraging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to boost exports, urging Pakistan to capitalize on China’s favorable trade preferences. He noted that while the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status with Europe has significantly increased exports, further district-wise economic opportunities could be explored.

Bilawal expressed support for a decentralized approach in economic planning, contrasting it with the federal government’s centralized methods. He praised the business community’s district-level research, asserting that such groundwork strengthens the argument for decentralization.

Discussing tax policies, Bilawal advocated for a respectful approach to taxpayers, citing Sindh’s success in tax collection post-18th amendment as evidence of the benefits of decentralization. He proposed that provinces take over the collection of sales taxes on goods, suggesting incentives for exceeding federal targets.

Addressing the nation’s power issues, Bilawal endorsed green energy solutions and referenced the Thar Coal Project’s success in providing affordable energy. He invited Punjab’s business community to utilize Sindh’s coal resources.

The PPP leader praised Sindh’s public-private partnerships, particularly in infrastructure, education, health, and energy sectors, suggesting their expansion to the district level. He concluded by emphasizing the need to decentralize Special Economic Zones, highlighting successful examples in Khairpur and other regions.