Former President of Pakistan and Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party Asif Ali Zardari has asserted that there is a dire need to discuss the charter of the economy in the current scenario of the country, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.  

Addressing a seminar titled “Charter of the economy” held in Lahore on Wednesday, he said that improving the economy of the country is essential for our future generations.

He invited all the stakeholders to sit together for the charter of the economy.

He held that people had seen the PPP ruling in the past, adding that his party’s government was better than everybody else. “We have to lift forex reserves to $200 billion,” he added.

Asif Zardari said that the defense expenditure has always been exaggerated. “There is a need to get out of the mindset and work for the national economy,” he added.

The PPP Co-Chairman said that public-private partnership is needed in the country in order to improve the country’s economy.

“Problems can be solved only by increasing exports,” Asif Zardari said, adding Pakistan still has the potential to move forward.

Foreign investors invested one dollar, he said, and earned five dollars adding that all Pakistani businessmen should form industrial groups and invest. “We shall guarantee [return on] your investment,” he added. He said that the world is built by the private sector and not by the public sector,” he said.

If they [stakeholders] were on this, they would find PPP standing beside them and vice versa. "Individuals do not matter, so let’s sit down and think beyond,” he added.  “PPP has always taken care of the business community.”

The former president of the country said that common people were already under the burden, adding that tax rates should be slashed. “Economy is not for five years, it’s for the coming generations,” he added.

Mr. Zardari said if exports' value was raised to $ 300 billion, it would make people forget claims of defense spending.

“The PPP government has constructed seven bridges in Sindh on the Indus through a public-private partnership,” he added.

He said that it was the duty of politicians to make policies and not do business. “Why did not anyone pay attention to Gwadar,” he asked.

Alluding to business opportunities to attendants, he added he would tax the end return and not before. “That is how countries are run,” he added.

Zardari said China is moving forward with a 50-year plan.