He was talking to a delegation of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) led by its President Abdul Basit, according to Chamber's spokesman here Wednesday.
Other members of the delegation included LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan, Tanvir Ahmed, Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim, Adnan Khalid Butt, Mian Abdul Razzaq, Mian Zahid Javed, Tariq Mahmood, Ch. Khadim Hussain, Moazam Rasheed, Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Ali Hassan Ashghar, Shahid Nazir, Arshad Baig and Maqsood Butt, while MNA Pervez Malik also spoke on the occasion.
Sardar Ayaz said he would approach federal ministries and important officials for resolution of the problems of business community. As it was backbone of economy and main source of revenue for national exchequer, their issues must be addressed on priority. He said the government was well aware of their problems and taking various measures to ensure business-friendly atmosphere.
The NA Speaker assured his full support to LCCI delegation for early resolution of the issues being faced by business community, saying he was ready to personally represent and raise the problems of trade and industry at all available forums including standing committees of National Assembly.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer, and it would bring economic prosperity in the region.
LCCI President Abdul Basit said industrial Policy should be a federal subject and uniformed for all the provinces. Currently, all provinces were formulating their own industrial policy which was creating an undue competition among the provinces.
He mentioned that currently, the rate of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) to industrial sector in Punjab was around Rs 932 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) compared to the system gas which was being provided to Sindh industry at Rs 600 per mmBtu, showing a difference of Rs 330 per mmBtu that increased the cost of doing business and non-competitiveness of Punjab-based industry in local and international markets.
He suggested that to bring Punjab on equal footing with other provinces, the government could at least give subsidy either on RLNG or restore system gas till the severity of winter to reduce gas tariff difference. He also stressed the need for resolving the issue of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC).
Abdul Basit mentioned that currently, there was a ban on new gas connections for industrial use, and the federal government should direct the SNPGL to remove this ban to incentives the formation of new industrial units/estates.
The government should also direct SNGPL to divert natural gas from CNG to industry and power sector, as load shedding of gas in winter hampered the performance of industrial sector.
Furthermore, due to low gas pressure in winters, the industrial sector was not able to operate in full swing.
He said energy mix of the country was very expensive due to lack of hydel power generation, and suggested that international and domestic stock markets should be used for generation of funds for Diamer-Bhasha and Kalabagh Dams.
He said around 40,000 large and small scale industries had already been established in and around Lahore, while the industrial estates of the city had the provision of only 1200 plots for Industries that were located in proper Industrial Zones (800 in Sundar Industrial Estate and 400 in Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate).
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce therefore reiterated its demand of declaring the 39 major roads of the city as Industrial Corridors. In accordance with the suggestions of Lahore Chamber of Commerce, LDA prepared a draft for the amendments in the master plan of Lahore. The proposed expansion in the Industrial Zoning of Lahore could not be implemented unless a formal notification of the amendments in the master plan of Lahore was issued.
LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that traffic congestion was one of the major problems of Lahore, therefore, the provincial government should construct parking plazas on already identified sites in the city on BOT basis.