"Wellbeing of the business community, more meaningful role of the Lahore Chamber in policy corridors and ensuring a good business atmosphere, boost in exports and healthy relations between public and private sectors would be top priorities of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry during the year to come."
These views were expressed by the LCCI newly-elected President Ifran Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice President Ali Asghar and Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad while speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Lahore Chamber here on Monday. Outgoing President Almas Hyder, Senior Vice President Khawaja Shahzad Nasir and Vice President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigal also spoke on the occasion.
The new office-bearers said that exploration of new markets for Pakistani products and reduction in cost of doing business would also be the targeted areas. They said that government and private sector are vital for each other and they cannot run alone.
The government must develop policies conducive for business environment and address genuine issues of the business community. There is an urgent need to reform the taxation system by engaging all the stakeholders, they said.
They also called for getting rid of the double taxation system that is hampering the trade and economic activities in the country.
They said that some areas are needed to be focused particularly to boost the economy of the country. LCCI will play a proactive role as a think tank and will give reality-based suggestion to the government.
Pakistani mission abroad should be given task to explore new markets and new buyers for Pakistani goods, they said adding that branding and marketing can help Pakistani products to show their existence in the international market. They said that regional trade should also be maintained with the aimed at boosting exports, they said
They also pledged to bridge liaison gap between government and the business community and said that relations should be based on mutual honour so that government and business community can make collective efforts for the national interests.