Punjab cabinet expresses desire to cooperate

Says it will work with business community to ensure economic growth

LAHORE: In a rare interaction with the private sector, the Punjab cabinet expressed the desire to work hand in hand with the business community to ensure economic growth.

Members of the cabinet delegation, led by caretaker finance minister Syed Haider Rizvi, were speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Provincial caretaker Minister for Finance Syed Zia Haider Rizvi said a mechanism has been evolved to run affairs smoothly. He said that the federal government has been asked to give the share to Punjab in taxes on petroleum and other goods that are being consumed in this province.

The caretaker setup wants to develop a roadmap for the upcoming government, he added.



Also speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said Punjab is considered the linchpin of Pakistan’s economy and it has the highest contribution in the country’s GDP.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan bars the caretaker government from taking any major policy decisions. The current system, however, does give the caretaker ministers some room to lay out important guidelines for future governments in terms of making public sector processes more efficient and business friendly, he added.



The LCCI president said that issues of double taxation, misuse of discretionary powers, lack of pro-business attitude or harassment, weak implementation of policies, lengthy procedures, delaying tactics, encroachment, and parking issues etc should be resolved at the earliest. On demand of the LCCI president, the provincial cabinet agreed to establish the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) facilitation desk at the Lahore chamber.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2018.

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