By M Qadeer
LAHORE: Regulatory enforcement and business facilitation should complement rather than undermine each other, says Ali Hussam Asghar, chairman of the Pioneer Businessman Group and candidate for president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), calling for a balanced approach towards concerns raised by traders and industrialists over regulatory procedures, including interactions with the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA).
Asghar said businesses recognise the government’s responsibility to enforce laws and ensure compliance, but regulatory systems work most effectively when procedures are transparent, predictable and applied consistently.
He maintained that LCCI should play a constructive role by helping businesses understand their legal obligations while taking genuine, documented concerns of traders and industrialists to the relevant authorities through appropriate institutional channels.
PERA was established under the Punjab Enforcement and Regulation Act, 2024, with the stated objective of streamlining regulatory measures and improving enforcement of special laws in Punjab. Official PERA documents also provide a regulatory framework for its enforcement structure and personnel. (Pera Punjab)
Against that backdrop, Asghar said the debate should not be framed as a choice between regulation and business. Instead, he argued for an enforcement environment that protects the public interest while allowing legitimate commercial and industrial activity to continue without avoidable disruption.
Businesses respect law, but need clarity
Asghar said traders and industrialists understand that businesses must operate within the law and comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
At the same time, he said businesses need to know clearly what is required of them, which authority is responsible for a particular matter and what process is available when a dispute or misunderstanding arises.
According to him, uncertainty can be particularly difficult for small businesses that do not have dedicated legal or regulatory departments.
He said an entrepreneur should not have to spend excessive time trying to determine which procedure applies to a routine business matter.
Asghar maintained that clearer communication between regulators and businesses could improve compliance and reduce unnecessary disputes.
PERA concerns should be addressed institutionally
Discussing concerns raised within sections of the business community regarding regulatory enforcement, including PERA-related interactions, Asghar said each complaint should be considered on its facts rather than converted into sweeping allegations against an institution or its personnel.
He said where a trader believes an enforcement action has caused a genuine problem or that a procedure has not been properly understood, there should be an accessible mechanism for clarification and redress in accordance with the law.
According to Asghar, LCCI can assist by documenting legitimate concerns and taking them to the competent authorities.
He said the chamber should neither encourage avoidance of lawful obligations nor remain indifferent when its members raise genuine regulatory difficulties.
The appropriate course, he maintained, is institutional engagement supported by facts and documentation.
Enforcement and facilitation can work together
Asghar said enforcement should not automatically be viewed as anti-business.
Effective regulation can provide certainty, protect consumers and create a level playing field when rules are clear and consistently applied, he maintained.
Problems arise, according to him, when businesses do not understand requirements, when different procedures overlap or when there is insufficient communication between stakeholders.
He said the objective should therefore be to strengthen compliance while making legitimate business easier.
Asghar called for greater awareness and consultation so traders know their responsibilities before enforcement becomes necessary.
He said preventive guidance can sometimes resolve issues more efficiently than disputes arising after action has already been taken.
LCCI can become bridge between regulators and businesses
Asghar said one of the most important responsibilities of LCCI is to maintain communication between the business community and government institutions.
He proposed a more structured approach under which regulatory concerns received from members could be recorded, examined and categorised.
Where a matter concerns an individual business, the chamber could guide the member towards the appropriate procedure or authority. Where the same issue is repeatedly reported across a sector or market, LCCI could examine whether a broader policy or procedural matter needs to be raised.
Asghar said such an approach would allow the chamber to distinguish between isolated disputes and systemic concerns.
It would also enable LCCI to present evidence-based recommendations rather than relying on general complaints, he added.
Grievance mechanism important for confidence
Asghar said businesses need confidence that genuine grievances can be heard through an established process.
A credible grievance mechanism, he maintained, is beneficial not only for businesses but also for regulators because it provides an orderly channel for resolving misunderstandings.
He said LCCI could facilitate communication without attempting to replace the statutory powers or legal procedures of any authority.
According to him, chamber representatives should understand the boundaries of their role.
Where a matter falls within a government department’s jurisdiction, LCCI can represent the business perspective and request consideration, but the ultimate decision must remain with the competent authority under the applicable law.
Small traders particularly need guidance
Asghar said regulatory complexity often affects small traders more heavily because they generally have fewer administrative resources.
A large company may employ accountants, lawyers and compliance professionals, while a small shopkeeper or entrepreneur may personally handle most business matters.
He said LCCI should therefore expand awareness and guidance for SMEs and smaller traders.
Workshops, help desks, explanatory sessions and communication with relevant departments could help members better understand changing requirements, he suggested.
According to Asghar, helping businesses comply before problems arise should be considered an important part of business facilitation.
Multiple regulatory requirements add to compliance burden
Asghar said businesses often interact with several federal, provincial and local institutions, depending on the nature of their operations.
While individual requirements may serve legitimate purposes, he said the cumulative compliance burden should also be considered when policies are developed.
Businesses require time and resources to deal with documentation, inspections, registrations, taxation and other procedures.
For smaller enterprises, administrative costs can become particularly significant.
Asghar said greater coordination, digitalisation and simplification could potentially reduce duplication while maintaining necessary regulatory oversight.
He maintained that LCCI should identify areas where procedures could be made more efficient without compromising legitimate enforcement objectives.
Predictability encourages investment
Asghar linked regulatory predictability with investment and economic growth.
Entrepreneurs make investment decisions after considering expected costs, market conditions and regulatory requirements, he said.
A clear framework allows businesses to plan, while uncertainty can make investment decisions more difficult.
Asghar said Lahore needs an environment in which existing businesses feel confident about expansion and new entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest.
That requires a combination of effective governance and business facilitation, he maintained.
Consultation can prevent disputes
Asghar said consultation with stakeholders before major regulatory changes can help policymakers understand how implementation may affect businesses.
He said consultation does not mean that every demand of the private sector must be accepted.
Government institutions have responsibilities towards consumers, public welfare, revenue and enforcement of the law, while businesses have their own operational concerns.
According to him, constructive dialogue allows these perspectives to be considered before implementation difficulties emerge.
He said LCCI should contribute to such consultation by presenting practical, researched proposals rather than simply opposing regulatory measures.
Traders need representation, not confrontation
Asghar said his approach would be based on firm but constructive representation.
He maintained that the chamber should be prepared to speak for traders and industrialists when their legitimate interests are affected, but engagement with government institutions should remain professional and respectful.
According to him, unnecessary confrontation rarely produces sustainable solutions.
Instead, he favours regular meetings, documented proposals and follow-up with relevant authorities.
Asghar said a chamber’s effectiveness should ultimately be measured by its ability to obtain practical consideration of business issues.
Industrial sector also needs regulatory certainty
Asghar said regulatory predictability was equally important for manufacturers.
Industrial businesses make significant investments in machinery, workers, inventories and infrastructure, often based on long-term planning.
They therefore require clarity regarding applicable requirements and sufficient opportunity to understand regulatory changes.
Asghar said LCCI should maintain sector-specific dialogue with industrial associations to identify emerging regulatory challenges.
Issues affecting different industries may vary considerably, he said, making a one-size-fits-all approach less effective.
Government and business share economic interests
Asghar said the government and private sector ultimately share several economic objectives.
Businesses want growth, investment and stable markets, while governments seek employment, revenue, economic activity and improved public services.
According to him, a stronger private sector can contribute more effectively towards these objectives.
He said government-business coordination should therefore be viewed as an economic necessity rather than merely a mechanism for resolving disputes.
Asghar maintained that LCCI can help build this relationship by providing policymakers with credible feedback from businesses while helping members better understand government requirements.
Digitalisation could reduce friction
Asghar also called for greater use of technology to simplify business interaction with public institutions wherever possible.
Digital procedures can potentially reduce paperwork, improve record-keeping and make requirements easier to track, he said.
However, he added that digital systems must remain accessible and user-friendly, particularly for SMEs.
According to Asghar, technology should reduce the compliance burden rather than simply transfer complicated procedures from paper to a computer screen.
He said businesses should also receive sufficient information and assistance when new systems are introduced.
LCCI should document regulatory concerns
Asghar said one of his priorities would be to encourage more systematic documentation of problems reported by members.
If LCCI can determine which issues are repeatedly affecting businesses, it can develop stronger proposals for policymakers, he maintained.
Data could help identify whether a particular concern is limited to one market, affects an entire sector or requires coordination between several authorities.
He said evidence-based representation would strengthen the chamber’s credibility and make discussions with government departments more productive.
Balanced regulation part of ease-of-doing-business agenda
Asghar said regulatory reform should form part of a broader strategy for improving the ease and cost of doing business in Lahore.
His agenda also includes addressing concerns relating to energy costs, taxation and compliance, industrial infrastructure, parking and congestion in commercial areas, SME development, exports and investment.
He said these issues are interconnected.
Businesses that face high operating costs and complicated procedures have fewer resources available for expansion, technology and employment, he maintained.
Conversely, he said an efficient regulatory environment can encourage businesses to formalise, invest and grow.
Focus should remain on practical results
Asghar said the next LCCI leadership should be judged by how effectively it pursues genuine business concerns rather than by the number of statements it issues.
He said members should have an accessible chamber capable of listening to complaints, determining which institution has jurisdiction and following up through appropriate channels.
On PERA and other regulatory bodies, Asghar said his proposed approach would remain consistent: respect lawful enforcement, promote compliance, seek transparency and raise documented business concerns wherever necessary.
He maintained that protecting the legitimate interests of traders and industrialists does not require weakening regulation.
Instead, he said Lahore needs a system in which effective enforcement, due process, business facilitation and economic growth can operate together.
For Asghar, that balance would be an important part of his broader LCCI vision — a chamber that represents businesses firmly, engages institutions constructively and works towards an environment where lawful enterprises can operate, invest and expand with greater confidence.
