One-window facilitation, SEZs vital for investment: Qaiser

Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh told the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday that a single-window facility, well-equipped Special Economic Zones and greater business input into policymaking are needed to draw investment. According to Business Recorder, he said the government will work closely with the chamber to address investor concerns and improve the business climate.

He argued that a working one-window system would cut out needless delays and spare investors from visiting several offices. Roads and infrastructure in the zones matter as well, he said, since allotting land alone would not attract investors. He referred to plans to use roughly 6,000 acres at the Pakistan Steel Mills site in Karachi for an economic zone and invited investors to look at the opportunity.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, meanwhile, urged authorities to stop harsh enforcement that disrupts legitimate business and to give firms a chance to fix minor violations before FIRs are lodged or premises sealed. Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani added that the combined tax load, covering corporate tax, dividend tax and super tax, is limiting how much profit companies can plough back into expansion.