Economy and Industrial Growth Take Centre Stage as More Trade Groups Join PIAF

Lahore, Pakistan – February 8, 2026 — A high-profile luncheon hosted at Sunder Industrial Estate in Lahore brought together leading industrialists from chemicals, pharmaceuticals, packaging, automotive, plastics and allied sectors to discuss strategies for reviving industrial momentum, overcoming structural bottlenecks and strengthening Pakistan’s export base.
The event, organized and hosted by Ban Rashid CEO Moazzam Rasheed, was held in honour of Mian Anjum Nisar, Chairman of the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF), and Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).
Participants used the platform to highlight persistent challenges undermining industrial competitiveness:
Rising production costs
Chronic energy shortages and unreliable supply
Export procedural delays and market access barriers
Inconsistent regulatory environment and complex taxation structure
Delegates presented concrete, sector-specific recommendations intended for inclusion in forthcoming federal and provincial budget proposals. Industry leaders repeatedly stressed that long-term growth, job creation and export competitiveness can only be achieved through predictable, consistent and genuinely industry-friendly government policies.
There was unanimous expression of confidence in Mian Anjum Nisar’s leadership of PIAF and strong commitment to collaborate closely with the platform to address sectoral issues. Particular appreciation was voiced for the pharmaceutical sector’s relatively better export performance in recent years despite the overall national export slowdown. Speakers called for focused policy support, skill enhancement programs, infrastructure upgrades and regulatory simplification to scale up growth in high-potential industries.
Mian Anjum Nisar and Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol urged industry representatives to actively participate in relevant government committees, submit practical proposals on time and maintain continuous engagement with policymakers so that industry priorities are adequately reflected in long-term economic and budgetary planning.
The Lahore Chamber reiterated its role as a bridge between the private sector and government, pledging ongoing support to help shape investor-friendly, export-oriented and sustainable policies.
The luncheon saw participation from a wide cross-section of industry leaders and trade representatives, including:
Senior PIAF Vice Chairman Nasrullah Mughal
Senior Vice President LCCI Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh
Former LCCI President Muhammad Ali Mian
Former PADMAC President Nabeel Hashnami
PIAF Executive Committee member Irfan Ahmed Qureshi
And prominent industrialists: Iftikhar Bashir Choudhry, Mudsar Masood, Sheikh Abdul Sattar Khajo, Junaid Afzal, Taufiq Sherwani, Ziaullah Khan, Muhammad Naseem, Hamid Raza, Waqas Mughal, Dr. Ajmal Mian, Dr. Azeer Nagira, Chaudhry Imtiaz, M. Saleem, Shahid Akhtar, Faisal Zaman, M. Arshad, Faisal Ghafoor, Zeeshan Zia, Imran Khan, Amir Khan, Dr. Abid Bhatti, Col (R) Farhan, Asim Mansoor, M. Athar, M. Wasim, Ghulam Abbas Bassi, Shabbir Ahmed, Dr. Abdul Sattar, Abida Abbas, Naveed Ahmed, Norina Manzar, Asia Raza, Yasir Mansoor
The gathering ended on an optimistic note with participants reaffirming their resolve to work closely with PIAF and the Lahore Chamber to ensure industrial priorities are effectively addressed and incorporated into national economic planning and budget-making.
Both sides agreed that close coordination between government and industry is indispensable to boost competitiveness, attract fresh investment and secure sustainable, inclusive growth across Pakistan’s core manufacturing and export-oriented sectors.