Latest news with #LahoreChamber
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
LCCI's SVP made acting president of industry
LAHORE: Senior Vice President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Engineer Khalid Usman will be the Acting President of the LCCI till June 9 as the LCCI President is abroad on a personal visit. Engineer Khalid Usman is a seasoned businessman, well-regarded for his dedication to the industrial and commercial sectors. With a deep understanding of the economic challenges faced by businesses across Pakistan, he has played a significant role in shaping LCCI's initiatives that promote ease of doing business, private sector growth and regulatory reform. His leadership is particularly valuable at a time when the business community is seeking clarity on various fiscal and economic policies, especially in the wake of the recently announced national budget. He said that as Acting President, he would carry forward the LCCI's ongoing engagements with government departments, trade bodies and international partners. Engineer Usman will look after all key activities of the Lahore Chamber including high-level meetings with visiting delegations, internal policy discussions and strategic outreach to relevant ministries and regulatory authorities. He will also be presiding over important consultative sessions aimed at protecting the interests of traders, manufacturers and exporters. His tenure is seen as a continuation of LCCI's broader mission to facilitate commerce, promote industrial development and advocate for practical reforms that benefit the economy at large. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Economic activities: Inclusion of minorities may help achieve economic stability target
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that inclusion of the minorities in economic activities could help achieve target of economic stability in shortest possible time. He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman, Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry, former Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar and Convener of the Standing Committee on Human Rights for Minorities Saleem Shakir also spoke on the occasion. The visit was marked by a shared commitment to promoting interfaith harmony, minority empowerment and economic inclusiveness across the business landscape of Punjab. In his address, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said that minorities are vital stakeholders in Pakistan's development and must be included in all spheres of national life, especially economic policymaking and enterprise growth. 'The government believes in complete inclusion of minority communities in the economic mainstream. The time has come to provide targeted facilities and remove structural hurdles that hold back minority entrepreneurs', he added. He further praised the minority-friendly policies of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and highlighted her vision of an inclusive and tolerant society. He said that the inclusive policies of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz are reflective of Jinnah's Pakistan. Under one flag, we are united. Our Constitution gives minorities their rights and it is our duty to turn those words into action. He also paid tribute to the Sikh community worldwide for their unshakable support for Pakistan and lauded the role of Pakistan's armed forces in defending the rights of every citizen, regardless of religion or ethnicity. LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, in his welcome remarks, expressed his pride in the Lahore Chamber's diverse and inclusive membership, which includes a significant number of Christian and Sikh businesspersons. He said that the minorities have played an outstanding role in development of Pakistan 'It gives me great pride to say that the Lahore Chamber has always stood for the protection of human rights and equal economic opportunities for all citizens. Our Sikh and Christian members are actively contributing to the economic and social progress of Pakistan,' Mian Abuzar Shad added. He said that we appreciate the Government of Punjab for entrusting you with the important portfolio of Minority Affairs. The Minister's role in promoting interfaith harmony across the province is commendable. He assured LCCI's full support in any initiative that promotes peace, unity and inclusive economic growth. He also shared a comprehensive roadmap of the Standing Committee with the minister. The roadmap aims to illustrate how LCCI can play an effective role in interfaith harmony, human rights protection and the economic empowerment of minorities. During the session, participants paid rich tributes to Ramesh Singh Arora for his unwavering services toward interfaith peace building, social cohesion and policy advocacy for minority rights. The LCCI Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry said that the business community and government should work together to uplift all segments of society, especially those that have been historically marginalized. The participants also made a human chain to expressed solidarity with the Pakistan's Armed Forces. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Steel traders urge LCCI to help de-seal godowns
LAHORE: Steel traders Friday sought LCCI help for de-sealing of their godowns terming it an anti-government step. They said that it is a calculated move to defame the present government. A delegation of Pakistan Steel Traders Association visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and informed the LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, former President Mian Anjum Nisar, Muhammad Ali Mian and former Vice President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol that such high-handedness by bureaucrats is not only an attack on the business community but also a deliberate attempt to damage the government's reputation and economic stability. Sheikh Umar Sarfraz, Ehsan Mehmood, Haji Alauddin, Sheikh Usman, Mian Tahir and Malik Ijaz said that that on May 1st, a public holiday, Pakistan Railways officials sealed hundreds of shops and godowns in the Badami Bagh area, despite the fact that many of these properties are either on long-term lease (99 or 33 years) or duly registered. Even the association's office, labour rooms and washrooms were sealed, creating panic and severe disruption in business operations. Traders described the act as if it were a military operation against criminals rather than a matter involving legitimate businesses. The delegation members said that how can godowns that are legally leased and paying advance rent be sealed without any prior notice or justification? The officials responsible must be held accountable. These officers are receiving salaries from the taxes paid by these very traders and are now using arbitrary powers to crush them.' The stakeholders demanded the immediate formation of a Dispute Resolving Committee with the involvement of the Lahore Chamber to mediate the issue and ensure that all sealed properties are reopened without delay. The LCCI leadership said that the Lahore Chamber stands firmly with the business community. They appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider to take urgent action. They further added that while industries across the country are already shutting down, no one dares to invest in new businesses due to such hostile actions. The government must rein in such officers and resolve this issue immediately through negotiations involving the Chamber. Why not first fix Pakistan Railways, which is suffering losses of over Rs3 billion monthly? Instead of reforming the system, these officers are targeting the very people who keep the economy afloat. The delegation members questioned that why railway officials have adopted an anti-business stance. What emergency justified sealing shops on a public holiday? This is a misuse of discretionary powers. In civilized societies, issues are resolved through committees, not through force. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
LCCI establishes ‘War Fund'
LAHORE: In a significant move to demonstrate national solidarity during wartime conditions, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Mian Abuzar Shad has established a 'War Fund' with an initial contribution of Rs 10 million. This fund has been specifically created to express solidarity with the armed forces and the nation. Addressing the occasion, LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad urged the business community and the general public to actively contribute to the fund. He emphasized that the business community is fully prepared to make every sacrifice for the integrity and security of Pakistan. The primary objective of the War Fund is to support national institutions during these challenging times. Mian Abuzar Shad reaffirmed that the Lahore Chamber has always prioritized national interests and will continue to do so in the future. Meanwhile, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has expressed solidarity with the Armed Forces of Pakistan and assured full support for their tireless efforts in defending the country against Indian threats. In a statement, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman and Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry strongly condemned the Indian government's expansionist and extremist policies They declared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally responsible for war crimes, human rights violations and the disruption of regional peace, branding him an 'international criminal who must be held accountable by the world.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
