LCCI President Calls for Opportunity to Rectify Violations Before Factory Sealing

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has said the government will work closely with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to promote investment, facilitate the business community and accelerate industrial growth.

He emphasized that the business community must be actively involved in policymaking, regulatory matters and economic decisions, as industrialists and traders understand ground realities and the challenges faced by businesses.

He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani and Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain also addressed the gathering.

Former vice presidents Mian Zahid Javed and Haris Ateeq, senior members Khawaja Shahzaib Akram, Amjad Chaudhry and Mian Sohail Nisar, along with Executive Committee members Azeem Iftikhar, Amir Ata Barry, Syed Yousaf Jamil, Muhammad Umar Abdullah, Syed Azmat Ali, Ali Raza, Atif Amin, Muhammad Shahzad and others, also attended the meeting.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said the business community should not merely be informed about government policies but actively participate in their formulation. He stressed that government departments should consult chambers of commerce and industrial representatives before introducing regulations, business standards and investment-related decisions to ensure that policies remained practical and did not create unnecessary hurdles for commercial activities.

The minister said an effective one-window facilitation system was essential to save investors from visiting multiple departments and facing unnecessary delays in obtaining approvals. He said the Board of Investment and the government were working in this direction and assured the business community that the Board would maintain close coordination with the LCCI to resolve investment-related issues.

Highlighting the importance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said their development was a key measure for attracting investment. He pointed out that allocating land alone was insufficient, as investors also required roads, infrastructure and other essential facilities to establish industries and expand operations.

He also highlighted plans to utilize approximately 6,000 acres of Pakistan Steel Mills land in Karachi for a Special Economic Zone and invited interested investors to explore the available opportunities. He said the effective use of large industrial landholdings, supported by adequate infrastructure, could create new opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, industrial investment and exports.

The minister stressed that local industrial competitiveness, production capacity and export potential should be considered when formulating trade policies. He said investors needed a predictable business environment, clear regulations and consistency in government decisions to make long-term investment plans with confidence.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said the business community played a vital role in economic growth, employment generation and investment. However, he noted that actions by government departments and the exercise of discretionary powers were creating difficulties for industrialists and traders.

He clarified that the LCCI did not oppose the implementation of laws and regulations, but stressed that enforcement should not unnecessarily disrupt legitimate business activities.

Instead of immediately registering FIRs, sealing business premises or taking strict action over minor or rectifiable violations, authorities should provide businesses with reasonable time and an opportunity to correct deficiencies, he said.

Ali Hussam Asghar also called for a review of relevant legislation, including the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency Act and the Punjab Food Authority Act, and proposed necessary amendments. He said the LCCI was reviewing relevant laws and would submit proposals for consideration at the provincial and national assembly levels.

He further emphasized that the tax system should build taxpayers’ confidence, reduce unnecessary disputes and facilitate compliance rather than create avoidable difficulties for businesses.

The LCCI president said several industries in Lahore, which had been operating for between five and 30 years, were now facing relocation notices from the Lahore Development Authority and other relevant departments. He called for a clear, uniform and transparent industrial relocation policy, supported by reasonable deadlines, alternative industrial sites and consultations with chambers of commerce and industry representatives.

He informed the minister that the LCCI had established a complaint centre to help members raise issues with relevant authorities and monitor progress towards their resolution.

The LCCI president also highlighted the importance of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar regarding the SME financing package.

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani said investment should be made a national priority and Pakistan should adopt an investment-led economic growth strategy.

He said investment performance should be assessed not merely through announcements but through actual capital inflows, the establishment of new industries, increased production, employment generation and export growth.

He pointed out that the overall tax burden on businesses was making it difficult for industrialists to reinvest profits, undertake new investments and expand productive capacity. He called for a review of the combined burden of corporate tax, dividend tax, super tax and other levies to develop a policy that encouraged investment and industrial expansion.

Sardar Usman Ghani said the Board of Investment should strengthen coordination between investors and government departments to address challenges relating to taxation, energy costs, official approvals, land acquisition, financing and policy uncertainty.

He added that policy consistency, lower business costs and a supportive environment for industrial expansion were essential to encourage investors to undertake long-term projects.

LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain said the timely resolution of business problems and the creation of a conducive environment for industrial growth and investment were essential for economic stability.

He said effective cooperation between the government and the private sector could promote business activity, industrial production, employment and exports. He emphasized the need to strengthen coordination between government departments and chambers of commerce to resolve issues confronting the business community.

He added that industrialists required reliable infrastructure, dependable facilities, simplified regulatory procedures and policy continuity to make long-term investment decisions with confidence.