ADCs headquarters told to facilitate business community
LAHORE: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo has directed all additional deputy commissioners (ADCs) headquarters to play an active role in facilitating the business community by providing immediate assistance and resolving their problems, particularly in times of need.
He was addressing the concluding session of a two-day workshop on Economic Development and Business Facilitation held at the Civil Secretariat.
The workshop was attended by representatives of relevant government departments and domestic and international investors. Participants discussed challenges faced by the business community and proposed measures to address them and create a more business-friendly environment.
Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that, for the first time, ADCs Headquarters had been assigned dedicated responsibilities for business facilitation, adding that their offices would serve as facilitation desks for entrepreneurs and business owners.
He stressed that prompt resolution of business-related issues and effective complaint redressal must remain top priorities.
He observed that while several officials and departments were responsible for imposing fines or sealing businesses, dedicated officers and mechanisms were also needed to resolve entrepreneurs’ problems.
He called for promoting healthy competition among government departments to improve service delivery and ensure maximum facilitation for the business community.
The ACS directed all relevant departments to extend full cooperation to ADCs Headquarters and ensure effective coordination with them. He said economic activity was essential for the functioning of the overall system, as a single business enterprise supported the livelihoods of numerous families.
He emphasised that ADCs Headquarters must bridge the gap between the government and the business community and strengthen the private sector’s confidence in public institutions.
Secretary Implementation and Coordination Dr Nasir Mahmood Bashir said the workshop aimed to promote economic activities at the district level and strengthen coordination with the private sector.
He added that special attention was being given to modernising the inspection system and making it more effective and transparent to facilitate business activities.
During the workshop, heads of the Excise, Labour, Environment, Food and Punjab Revenue Authority departments gave detailed briefings on their respective enforcement mechanisms, challenges faced by the business community and related matters.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026