One-window facilitation, SEZs vital for investment: Qaiser

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has stressed the need for one-window facilitation, fully equipped Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and the business community’s involvement in policymaking to attract investment and accelerate industrial growth.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday, he said the government would work closely with the chamber to address investors’ concerns, improve the business environment and promote industrial development.

He said the business community should be actively involved in formulating policies and regulations, as industrialists and traders understood ground realities and the challenges facing businesses. The government departments should consult chambers of commerce before introducing measures affecting investment and commercial activities.

The minister said an effective one-window system was essential to eliminate unnecessary delays and save investors from visiting multiple departments. He also highlighted the importance of providing roads, infrastructure and other essential facilities in SEZs, saying land allocation alone was insufficient to attract investors.

He referred to plans to utilise approximately 6,000 acres of Pakistan Steel Mills land in Karachi for a special economic zone and invited investors to explore the opportunities.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar called for an end to harsh enforcement measures that disrupt legitimate business activities, urging authorities to provide businesses a reasonable opportunity to rectify minor or remediable violations before registering FIRs or sealing premises.

He said the chamber did not oppose the enforcement of laws but stressed that implementation should be fair and proportionate. He also called for a review of relevant legislation, including the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency Act and the Punjab Food Authority Act, to address business concerns.

Several industries in Lahore, operating for five to 30 years, were facing relocation notices from the Lahore Development Authority and other departments, he pointed out, urging the government to formulate a clear and transparent relocation policy, providing reasonable deadlines, alternative industrial sites and consultation with business representatives.

He added that the LCCI had established a complaint centre to help members raise issues with relevant authorities and monitor their resolution. He also appreciated the government’s efforts to promote financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani said Pakistan needed an investment-led growth strategy, with performance measured through actual capital inflows, new industrial establishments, higher production, employment generation and export growth.

He said the cumulative tax burden, including corporate tax, dividend tax, super tax and other levies, was restricting businesses’ ability to reinvest profits and expand operations. He called for a review of the overall tax burden and stronger coordination among government departments to resolve issues relating to taxation, energy costs, approvals, land acquisition and financing.

LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain stressed the need for timely resolution of business issues, reliable infrastructure, simplified regulatory procedures and policy continuity. He said stronger government-private sector cooperation was essential to boost industrial production, investment, employment and exports.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026