LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said that all genuine issues of industrialists would be addressed on a priority basis. He emphasised that promoting industrialisation and creating employment opportunities remain central to the government’s agenda.
Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce gave these assurances while talking to a delegation of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which called on him to discuss challenges faced by industrialists, particularly in the Saggian Industrial Area.
The meeting, held at Punjab Small Industry Corporation (PSIC) House, focused on long-standing concerns of businesses operating in the area, including the demand to grant Saggian formal industrial status and abolish conversion fees imposed by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA).
Representatives of the business community, led by Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, told the minister that industries in Saggian were under increasing pressure due to these charges. They argued that the imposition of heavy conversion fees on already established industrial units was unjustified, especially when the infrastructure in the area had largely been developed by the industrialists themselves.
Responding to these concerns, Shafay said that he is committed to ensuring that the wheel of industry keeps moving under all circumstances. “My office remains accessible to industrialists at all times”.
He further noted that applying commercialisation or conversion charges on existing industrial units in Saggian was not appropriate. The minister directed the relevant authorities to work in close coordination with the LCCI to find a practical and mutually agreed solution to this issue.
“The matter of conversion fees will be resolved through consultation with stakeholders,” he said, underlining the importance of dialogue in addressing industry concerns.
