LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) convened a meeting of all the Chambers of Commerce in Punjab on Tuesday, July 10, to sort out the issues being faced by the business community and to develop a joint strategy for their solution.

The LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that the Lahore Chamber has decided to convene the meeting of all the chamber of Commerce in Punjab as per the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab who would also be sending all the Provincial Secretaries to the said meeting.

He said that the Provincial Secretary Labour, Secretary Environment and Secretary Home would especially be attending the said meeting as business community in a meeting with the Chief Minister had raised a number of issues that are being created by these departments.

Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that in a meeting with the Chief Minister, he had raised the issuance of notices to the business community by the Labour and Environment departments that are creating troubles for the business doing people in these very challenging times. "Other provinces also have Labour and Environment departments but they are not doing any such practice," he said.

He said that this is a time to give relief to the business community but certain provincial departments were doing the other way round by serving notices on daily basis for no reason that has created unrest among the people who are generating huge revenue for the government.

He said that only because of ongoing energy crisis the province of Punjab has lost almost two percent of its GDP which means a net loss of Rs.200 billion with a closure of 40 percent of the industry. "Another 10 to 15 percent are on the verge of closure if the Federal Government fails to take immediate remedial measures."

The LCCI President said that the cost of doing business in the Province of Punjab has increased significantly as compared to other provinces of the country. He said that there is a gas closure for four days a week in Punjab as compared to no gas load shedding in the other provinces.

He said that the law-and-order situation is also equally bad because dacoities at business places have become the order of the day and the Chief Minister has taken a strict notice of the situation. He also welcomed the Chief Minister decision to constitute a high-powered committee comprising business community representatives to solve the problems being faced by the private sector.

Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that facilitation to the business community means a strong economy and more jobs for the unemployed youth that are increasing with every passing day due to unavailability of employment opportunities.