LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has welcomed the reforms introduced by the Punjab for ease of doing business and said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif deserves appreciation for taking another giant leap towards economic self-reliance by supporting the business sectors.
In a letter written to Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that construction permits, property registration and business registration related reforms will not only give breathing space to the industrial sector but would also improve Pakistan’s international ranking in ease of doing business.
Malik Tahir Javaid, who has sufficient command over the challenges being faced by the business community, said that at present Pakistan is experiencing worst ranking in ease of doing business but this great initiative of Chief Minister Punjab will help raise Pakistan’s competitiveness at global market place.
The LCCI President said that standardization of by-laws of Metropolitan Corporation Lahore and Lahore Development Authority, no requirement of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Environment Protection Agency for non-hazardous projects, issuance of building permits for commercial warehouses in just 21 days by Metropolitan Corporation Lahore from E-khidmat Center at Town Hall and Issuance of Building permits for commercial warehouses in 14 days by Lahore Development Authority through One Window Facility will help industrial sector flourish while business registration related reforms will also give huge relief to the industrial sector. He said that development of business registration portal for online registration of firms in just two days, integration of business registration portal with Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI), Lahore and Human Resource Department & Industries, Commerce & Investment Department will save time and money of the businessmen.
The LCCI President said that Punjab is the largest and most important province as most of the export-oriented sectors are located here and playing an important role. He said that reforms for the Punjab industry will certainly play a pivotal in much-needed boost in exports. He suggested that Federal government should also follow the path of Punjab government and introduce such reforms as cost of doing business is one of the major hurdles hampering the growth of all sectors of economy.
Malik Tahir Javaid said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry is already doing a lot of work for ease of doing business and supplementing government efforts aimed at economic uplift of the country.