PCJCCI chief urges Pakistani govt to learn poverty reduction techniques from China

Lahore: Pakistan-China Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) have urged the Pakistani government to learn poverty reduction techniques from China who successfully alleviated this menace.

Moazzam Ghurki, President of the PCJCCI, expressed admiration for China’s successful poverty reduction initiatives in rural areas.

He emphasized the desire of Pakistan and PCJCCI to learn from China’s model during a think-tank session at the PCJCCI Secretariat in Lahore.

Ghurki praised China’s advancements in digitalization and acknowledged Pakistan’s progress, noting the establishment of various banks and microfinance institutions since 2005.

Fang Yulong, Senior Vice President of PCJCCI, highlighted the crucial role of financial literacy in poverty reduction.

He proposed initiating visits to rural areas in Pakistan, similar to Chinese practices, to provide training for the younger generation on financial literacy, enabling them to understand financial products and access finances.

Yulong emphasized the significance of finance as the lifeblood of the economy, essential for opening small-scale businesses and pursuing education for upward mobility.

On this occasion, Hamza Khalid, Vice President of PCJCCI, emphasized the growing attention towards rural tourism. Khalid stressed the importance of children understanding the origins of food, advocating for visits to places where they can witness the entire process from seed sowing to harvesting.

In his comments, Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General of PCJCCI, highlighted the Pakistani government’s initiative, “Raast,” as a transformative program facilitating digital payments and transfers. Overall, the session emphasized learning from China’s experiences, promoting financial literacy, and fostering a deeper understanding of rural economies, agriculture, and finance among the younger generation in Pakistan.