By Commerce Reporter
LAHORE— Prime Minister’s Adviser on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has said the government is pursuing regulatory reforms to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and promote industrial growth, while Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Ali Hussam Asghar has raised concerns over FIRs, arrests and departmental actions against businesspeople.
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Addressing a conference on business reforms at the LCCI on Monday, Haroon Akhtar said reducing unnecessary regulations, multiple approval requirements, repeated inspections and delays in government procedures was essential for economic stability and the promotion of trade and industry.
He said the government was working on 581 regulatory reform initiatives and considering a centralised system to consolidate federal, provincial and local laws. Proposals were also being examined to assess the impact of new regulations on businesses.
The proposed Pakistan Business Portal would provide information on business regulations, approval requirements, application status and online payment facilities, he said, adding that a digital dashboard had been developed to monitor the implementation of reforms.
Referring to a framework for opening business accounts at commercial banks within three days, Haroon Akhtar invited the business community to report implementation-related complaints to the relevant authorities.
He stressed the need for transparent inspection procedures, protection of business rights and avoiding the unjustified conversion of civil violations into criminal cases.
He also said a pilot project with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) had been completed and the proposals would be presented to the relevant cabinet committee.
LCCI chief raises concerns over FIRs against businesses
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said FIRs, arrests and actions by various government departments against industrialists and traders were adversely affecting the business environment.
He proposed that fines should be considered instead of criminal proceedings for minor violations wherever permitted by law.
Asghar expressed concern over reports of approximately 400 FIRs registered against the industrial sector and said he had been in contact with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the issue.
He called for a review of three provincial laws in Punjab, along with relevant federal legislation, to address regulatory difficulties faced by businesses.
The LCCI president also urged the government to share draft legislation with chambers of commerce before its implementation so that business representatives could offer recommendations and identify potential problems.
SIFC highlights investment barriers
Representatives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) identified complex regulations, taxation costs, energy-related challenges and policy uncertainty as major obstacles to investment.
They stressed the need to eliminate red tape, reduce delays in approvals and no-objection certificates (NOCs), and maintain direct engagement with the business community.
Haroon Akhtar said the government was working to simplify the regulatory framework and improve coordination among relevant institutions to facilitate businesses and encourage investment.
Business leaders seek stronger coordination
LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani and Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain called for stronger coordination among federal and provincial governments, the SIFC and the LCCI.
They emphasised continued consultation with business representatives to simplify regulations, resolve industrial issues and promote investment and exports.
The conference was attended by Prime Minister’s Coordinator Ihsan Afzal Khan, SIFC Secretary Jameel Ahmed, former LCCI presidents Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman and Shahzad Ali Malik, and senior LCCI members Sohail Nisar and Amjad Ali Chaudhry.
Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ghulam Hussain, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Arif Ehsan, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Asad Naseer Malik and Association of Builders and Developers Chairman Sultan Gohar also attended.
Other participants included Zufran Qasim, Ahmad Waqar, Arsalan Ali and Adnan Munir, along with LCCI Executive Committee members Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim, Huma Junaid, Naila Nadeem, Syed Yousaf Jamil, Muhammad Yaseen, Mardan Ali Zaidi, Azeem Iftikhar, Muhammad Umer Abdullah, Naveed Ayoub, Hamza Majeed, Shahzad Mehmood and others.
