Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and concerned departments should evolve an effective strategy with mutual consultation within two weeks for the promotion of investment and industrial growth in the province.
He was talking to a delegation of LCCI Executive Committee members led by LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik here on Tuesday, an official disclosed. Matters regarding commerce and trade activities and problems being faced by traders' community were discussed in the meeting. Provincial Trade and Commerce Minister, Dost Muhammad Khosa, Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik and Secretary Commerce Fazal Abbas Mekan were also present.
Addressing the Executive Committee members, the chief minister said power generation is vital for the promotion of trade and industrial sector and proposals should be formulated for encouraging private sector to invest in energy sector. He said he would talk to the prime minister over the issue of withdrawing loadshedding exemption to textile sector without prior intimation.
The chief minister said that Pakistan was passing through a difficult phase due to worst ever floods, which had also left adverse effects on economy, trade and exports. The Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the promotion of commerce and trade, and all possible facilities were being provided to the traders' community for this purpose. Punjab was rich in natural resources and future of the country was linked to agro-based industries, including livestock, milk processing and dairy development. Power generation through alternate sources of energy was of key importance for growth of industry and other sectors, and there were vast opportunities of generation of energy from hydel power and coal in the province. The Punjab government had set up a separate department for power generation through alternate sources of energy.
He said the LCCI and concerned departments of the Punjab government should collaborate to formulate a trade and energy policy to encourage investors and industrialists and to motivate private sector to invest in power sector. "The LCCI has a great role to play in the promotion of commerce and industry and it should evolve a strategy for industrial growth. The Punjab government would cooperate with the LCCI for the implementation of the strategy. Provincial Trade and Commerce Minister, Dost Muhammad Khosa and MNA Pervaiz Malik should hold a meeting with office bearers of LCCI and develop a roadmap with regards to energy and trade policy. Decline in exports was a matter of great concern," he added.
Citing example of Turkey, the chief minister said volume of exports of Pakistan and Turkey was almost same in the past but today Turkey's exports have increased and it has a robust economy. He also said Punjab was the largest province of Pakistan and LCCI should set a lofty example by formulating trade and energy policy. He congratulated newly elected LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Vice President and Members of Executive Committee and said that it is an experienced team and expressed the hope that it will play an important role in industrial growth in the province.
President LCCI, Shahzad Malik said they would evolve a strategy in collaboration with the Punjab government for the promotion of commerce and industry, which would have a positive impact not only in Punjab but on the whole country. He said there was a need to set up another dry port in the province and it could be established in Chichokimalian. "The LCCI would organise a business week for the promotion of commerce and industry and it will also cooperate with the Punjab government in the rehabilitation of flood affected people," he added.