By M Qadeer
LAHORE: Candidate for the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Executive Committee, Rameez Dewan, has outlined a set of business priorities focusing on stronger representation, improved coordination with government departments and practical solutions to the challenges confronting traders and industrialists.
Dewan said the LCCI should continue serving as an effective platform for communication between the business community and government institutions, particularly on issues affecting investment, industrial activity, trade and employment.
He said traders and industrialists require an environment in which their concerns can be raised through institutional channels and addressed through sustained engagement with relevant authorities.
Dewan stressed the importance of maintaining regular contact with business associations and markets across Lahore, saying that effective chamber representation requires understanding the problems faced by businesses at the grassroots level.
He identified taxation, regulatory procedures, energy costs, industrial infrastructure, customs-related matters and ease of doing business among the issues that require continued attention from the business community and its representative institutions.
Dewan also emphasised the importance of encouraging investment and supporting existing businesses. He said small and medium-sized enterprises, manufacturers, exporters, traders and other businesses contribute significantly to economic activity and employment and therefore require policies that facilitate rather than obstruct their operations.
His position comes amid the ongoing 2026 LCCI election campaign. The PPBA website lists Rameez Dewan among its Corporate Class candidates for the 2026 election.
Dewan has also previously participated in business-community engagements involving the LCCI. In December 2025, he was among office-bearers of the Anjuman-e-Tajiran Container Market Daroghawala delegation that met the LCCI president and discussed issues facing traders, including customs-related concerns and other business difficulties.
He said the chamber’s effectiveness ultimately depends on regular consultation with its members and constructive engagement with policymakers. According to him, representatives should remain accessible to members and keep their priorities connected to the practical challenges faced by businesses.
Dewan further said that industrial and commercial development in Lahore requires cooperation among traders, industrialists, exporters, professional bodies and government institutions. He called for dialogue on regulatory reforms, infrastructure, investment facilitation and measures aimed at improving the overall business environment.
The LCCI election schedule places Corporate Class polling on Sept. 23 and Associate Class polling on Sept. 24, according to recent election-related reporting.
