PCJCCI President for setting up global cities on pattern of Shanghai
Source : Business Recorder Date : 11-12-2014
Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Shah Faisal Afridi has stressed the need for setting up global cities on the pattern of Shanghai in the four provinces of Pakistan.
While highlighting the modern concept to be practiced in the developed world to attract foreign investment in the industrial sector, Afridi said Pakistan was getting entrance into international markets and becoming a preferred country for foreign investors so there was a dire need to initialise the concept of establishing 'Global City' or 'World City' in Pakistan which would eventually bring industrial revolution in the country.
He explicated the concept of 'Global City' or 'World City' which had been widely used in past by various southern countries including China to achieve the set goals for their economic development. "The term involves the vigorous participation of cities in the economic activities of the country," he said adding that under the concept of 'Global cities', the cities were empowered and strengthened enough to broaden their manufacturing horizons on their own, they become able to market their outputs and earn capital to finance industrial infrastructure and services.
"The process of making cities globalised also prevents brain drain and frustration among the youth for not finding jobs appropriate to their qualifications," he further said. He said in China the term was used in 21st century during the developmental phase of converting Shanghai into an international market hub. "A city developed under this ideology encompasses a highly expanded investment environment that leads to overall economic and social development of China," he said.
In the light of the idea of 'global cities', Faisal Afridi suggested that the government of Pakistan should develop integrated industrial estates and industrial parks in a number of regions throughout the country by providing special incentives, infrastructure facilities, security and the energy. He was confident that the idea if implemented in the letter and spirit would promote a bolstered manufacturing sector in specialised areas, which would allow Pakistan to lessen its reliance on imports and create abundant opportunities for employment.
He said the government's ongoing industrial plans were directing the way for establishing global cities in Pakistan. "It is encouraging that the government is allocating financial and technical resources to build ports, toll roads and railways to increase connectivity of the industrial areas with rest of the country. The government's current plan to build 'Techno Parks' for promotion of IT and technology-based industries would also help execute the idea of the global cities in Pakistan," he said
President PCJCCI observed that while globalising the economies, local cities played important role as the global capital and global migrants were resided there at metropolises. He said in Pakistan the cities famous for specialised products such as Sialkot, Faisalabad, Wazirabad, Gujranwala, Chiniot had great potential to be turned as global cities. He was of the view that vigorous efforts should be undertaken by government and private sector associations in collaboration with international agencies for creating awareness on the potential of value-addition through market and product diversification and by exporting to high-value buyers.