Proper economic diplomacy needed to gain economic freedom: Mian Zahid.

President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said effective economic diplomacy is needed for political and economic independence. Economic security is imperative for national security while only self-reliant countries are respected in the global community of nations, he said.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that economic diplomacy make the country rich and influential while its absence compels any country to follow dictation in its political, economic and foreign policies.

The former minister noted that government and the private sector must join hands for successful economic diplomacy and the business associations can play a leading role in this regard.

He noted that trade agreements, deals aimed at abolishing double taxation, mega projects, financial services, foreign investment etc. are all linked to economic diplomacy.

The business leader said that trade officials should be posted on merit in foreign mission and their promotion must be linked to...