LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan hosted a dinner at Governor House in honour of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol and members of the Executive Committee, bringing together top business leaders to discuss the country’s deteriorating economic conditions and pressing policy concerns.
At the gathering, LCCI President Saigol painted a stark picture of the challenges confronting Pakistan’s retail and business sectors, citing rising oil prices, runaway inflation, electricity load-shedding, and mounting trade restrictions as key drivers of economic distress. He warned that businesses are shutting down, markets have grown deserted, and the movement of goods from warehouses has become increasingly difficult. He further noted that late-night truck operations and enforcement raids are compounding the disruption.
Saigol called on the government to lift lockdown restrictions on the retail sector, stressing that suppressing economic activity directly undermines tax collection. He also advocated for long-term structural solutions, including promoting electric vehicles, strengthening public transport, and ensuring meaningful stakeholder consultation in policymaking.
Governor Saleem Haider Khan acknowledged the severity of the situation and pledged that the LCCI’s proposals would be raised at relevant government forums, assuring the business community that their concerns would be addressed as a priority.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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