LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday organized a seminar on “Export Documentation and FBR Regulatory Requirements” to create awareness among the business community about regulatory procedures, documentation, compliance requirements and the need for a facilitation-oriented approach by government institutions.
LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol chaired the seminar, which was also attended by Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Chairperson Hina Parvez Butt, LCCI Executive Committee Members Firdous Nisar, Idrees Asghar, Riffat Malik and Nilofar Sikandar.
Addressing the seminar, LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said Pakistan’s exports were stuck around the USD 30 billion mark, while regional countries were performing far better in exports. He said Vietnam’s exports had reached around USD 500 billion, showing the need for Pakistan to take practical measures to expand its export base and improve competitiveness.
He said the high power tariff was a major challenge for businesses and exporters and stressed that the cost of doing business must be reduced to make Pakistani products more competitive in international markets.
Saigol said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had started working on new sectors to enhance exports, but such initiatives should be supported by a business-friendly regulatory framework, simplified procedures and effective facilitation by government departments.
He said the FBR’s new regulatory changes could create difficulties for the SME sector if businesses were not given adequate awareness, consultation and time to comply. He said the seminar had been organized to help the business community better understand regulatory and documentation requirements and avoid compliance-related difficulties.
The LCCI President stressed that all government departments should act as facilitators for traders and businesses rather than becoming a source of harassment. He said Pakistan’s population had grown significantly, making it essential to create more employment opportunities, while export-led growth was vital for sustainable economic development.
He said a coordinated approach among government institutions and the private sector was necessary to remove regulatory bottlenecks, simplify procedures and create an environment conducive to investment, business expansion and exports.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson Punjab Women Protection Authority Hina Parvez Butt said that effective implementation of laws, clear procedures and responsive government institutions were essential for creating a safe and supportive environment for women, including women working in businesses and workplaces.
She said women should be able to approach government institutions without fear or unnecessary procedural hurdles, adding that the government was working to make complaint and protection mechanisms more accessible.
Hina Parvez Butt said crimes against women would not be tolerated and that registration of FIRs in cases involving violence against women had been made mandatory. She said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif had emphasized that the objective should not be to reduce crime reporting but to reduce crime itself.
She said the “15” emergency response system and the Virtual Women Police Station were providing women with accessible channels to report complaints and seek assistance. She added that technology through the Safe City Authority was also being used to identify criminal elements, while reforms had been introduced to improve police response and the overall police culture.
Hina Parvez Butt said women-related cases were being treated as a priority and the Punjab Women Protection Authority had started open kachahris to provide women with multiple services and guidance at one place.
She said the Authority could provide support including shelter and psychological assistance and, where necessary, help arrange alternative safe residence for women who did not feel secure in their homes.
She added that domestic violence was treated as a criminal offence and stressed the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms so that women could report abuse and receive timely protection and support.
