Prime Minister’s Adviser on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has stressed the need to strengthen Pakistan’s industrial sector, attract investment, boost exports and improve the business environment to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Addressing a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Khan said the government was working closely with the business community to promote industrial development, facilitate businesses, generate employment and remove unnecessary obstacles to commercial activities.
He said traders and industrialists played a vital role in the national economy, adding that government policies should encourage investment and build business confidence.
The adviser said the government was pursuing industrial policy initiatives and regulatory reforms to protect businesses from harassment, excessive inspections and unnecessary official intervention. He called for an end to the misuse of first information reports (FIRs) in business disputes and unnecessary freezing of business accounts, stressing that authorities must follow transparent procedures and ensure due process.
Khan urged government departments to adopt a supportive approach towards businesses. He said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other relevant institutions should balance revenue collection with the need to promote business expansion, investment and employment opportunities.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said the business community continued to contribute significantly to economic development but often faced difficulties because of the discretionary powers and actions of government departments.
He clarified that the chamber supported the enforcement of laws and regulations but opposed the harassment of businesspeople and the registration of FIRs over minor violations. Such practices, he said, discouraged commercial activity and created difficulties for traders and industrialists.
