LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Tuesday had high profile meetings with Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Provincial Health Department and Punjab Environment Protection Department and had detailed discussions on trade and industry related issues.
The LCCI President Abdul Baist, former Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi, Muhammad Arshad Ch., Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Tariq Mahmood and Mian Abdul Razzaq, MD SNGPL Amjad Latif, Acting Secretary TDAP Dr. M. Usman and Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir attended the meetings and exchanged views with the LCCI office-bearers and Executive Committee Members.
MD SNGPL Amjad Latif said that LNG has become an integrated part of consumption. Country has no other option instead of LNG therefore it is being promoted as alternative fuel. He said that situation took positive turn after arrival of LNG as it has brought down the production cost of power generation units. He said that gas losses have come down to 8% from 12% while further improvement would be witnessed with the passage of time. He said that SNGPL has started giving new gas connections. This process would be expedited after operationalization of second terminal in August of this year. The LCCI President Abdul Basit urged SNGPL to expedite the issuance of new GAS connection to the industry. He said that industrial connections should be re-shifted from temporary RLNG to the old Sui Gas as it has increased the industrial input cost. He said that old tariffs should be applied on revival of disconnected gas connections. He said that SNGPL should make all processes for industries easy.
The LCCI President Abdul Basit said that continuous decline in export is a matter for concern. TDAP should focus on exploring the market for Pakistani value added items as about one half of Pakistan’s exports go to seven countries only while one fourth exports consistently find their way in European Union. He said that there is a lot about the potential of trade with regions and countries like SAARC, ASEAN, OIC, Central Asian Republics, Middle East, Africa, China and Iran but unfortunately no strategy has been adopted to tap this potential. He said that Pakistan’s share is negligible in the global Halal Food Trade of $ 300 billion. He said that only 10% share can add $ 30 billion to the national exports. He said that the LCCI welcomes Pakistan Expo 2017 and ready to extend every possible cooperation to TDAP in this regard. TDAP Acting Secretary Dr. M. Usman threw light on the aims and objectives of Pakistan EXPO 2017 and also highlighted the measures being taken by TDAP for boosting the exports.
Meeting with Provincial Health Minister: Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir and the LCCI Abdul Basit jointly inaugurated mobile van services for free chest screening of factory workers. Provincial Minister Health Minister said that this service is part of Punjab government’s endeavors to provide best health facilities to the masses. He said that Punjab government has declared the Tuberculosis (TB) as notifiable disease. He said that a best mechanism has been devised for free diagnoses/treatment of the worker’s. The LCCI President Abdul Basit said that such initiative was need of the hour as Pakistan ranks 5th in the list of 22 countries with higher number of TB patients. It is estimated that around 50,000 people dies annually just because of this deadly disease. He said that lack of awareness and health facilities in the rural areas are giving severity to this disease.
Consultative Dialogue on Environmental Laws & their Implementation: Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President urged the government to give 5 to 10 years tax exemption to the environment compliant industrial units that would attract others to follow the suit. He said that fast changing global economic scenario has provided us an opportunity to increase our exports to the desired levels but the desired goal cannot be achieved without having compliance with the international environmental standards. He said that Punjab Environment Protection Department should help business community and give awareness about the environment standards.
