Saggian zone demands industrial status

Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has assured industrialists that their genuine issues would be addressed on a priority basis, particularly the demand to abolish conversion fees imposed by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) in Saggian Industrial Area.

The assurance came during a meeting with a delegation led by Senior Vice President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh on Friday.

Representatives of the industrialist community told the minister that industries in Saggian were under increasing pressure due to these charges. They argued that imposing heavy conversion fees on already established industrial units was unjustified, especially since the area's infrastructure had largely been developed by themselves.

The minister directed relevant authorities to work in close coordination with the LCCI to find a practical and mutually agreed solution. He noted that applying commercialisation or conversion charges on existing industrial units in Saggian was not appropriate.

"The matter of conversion fees will be resolved through consultation with stakeholders," he said.

Earlier, Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh highlighted that around 1,500 industrial units were operating in the Saggian area. He urged the government to recognise the area as a formal industrial zone and provide policy support to ensure its sustainable growth.