LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday achieved another milestone by holding the LCCI first-ever Export Trophy Ceremony at Punjab Chief Ministers’ House.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif was the Chief Guest while the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder, Vice President Nasir Saeed, former LCCI Presidents Mian Anjum Nisar, Mian Misbah ur Rehman, Muhammad Ali Mian, former Senior Vice Presidents Abdul Basit, Mian Nauman Kabir and Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Gous Pasha were prominent among the other participants. As many as 20 leading exporters were given trophies for best export performance.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, who is also former president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said that business community is important pillar of economy and no country could move ahead without its due role. He said that government is ensuring maximum facilities for the business community and investors.
He said that economy of Pakistan has made considerable improvement due to untiring efforts and policies of the present regime. He said that because of good economic indicators, foreign investors are showing their keen interest to invest in Pakistan. He said that government doing best efforts to make strengthen the economy and to promote trade & industry of the country. He said that a lot of work in energy sector is being done. He said that after completion of the ongoing projects sufficient energy would be available to the trade and energy. He said that if same efforts had been done in the past, the economic situation would have been quite encouraging today. The Chief Minister also prayed for early recovery of the LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said that though status of zero rated to the five big sectors by the government is a welcome step but engineering, halal products and information technology sectors should also be given zero rated facility so that Pakistan could get its due share in the global trade. He said that like federal government, provinces should also give the zero-rate facility to all exports.
He said that at present collective volume of global trade is around 33 trillion dollars. Global trade volume of engineering, halal products, leather products, textile & cotton, carpet, surgical instruments, sports goods, iron & steel and auto parts & vehicle is 7 trillion dollars, 1.4 trillion dollars, 413 billion dollars, 1.4 trillion dollars, 28.5 billion dollars, 1.1 trillion dollars, 200 billion dollars, 1.2 trillion dollars and 2.6 trillion dollars respectively.
He said that existing industrial estates are not enough to cater the need of industrialization therefore Punjab government should also establish new industrial zones. He said that growth rate should be at least 6 to 7 percent to create 2 million new job opportunities annually for the youth who are 21 per cent of the total population.
The LCCI Senior Vice President informed the Chief Minister that an LCCI delegation has recently visited Iran and found that there is a lot of potential for Pakistani textile products and meat. He said that this opportunity should be availed to the maximum through joint efforts.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif distributed the trophies to the winners. Group Director of Maple Leaf Cement Yahya Hamid received Chief Minister Trophy, Chief Executive of Nisar Spinning Millis Mian Tariq Nisar received LCCI Golden Trophy, CEO of Royal Leather Industries Agha Saidan received Export Compliance Trophy, Chief Executive of GFC Fans Muhammad Ilyas, Chief Executive of LUNA ABRASIVI Khadam Hussain, Chief Executive of Power Vision Amjad Wazir, Qaisur Rehman of Kalamkar, Chief Executive of Qudratullah & Co Qudratullah, Chief Executive of Vital Tea Haji Muhammad Yaseen, Chief Executive Officer of Azguard 9 Ltd Mian Ahmed H. Sheikh, Proprietor of Sarwar Foods Tariq Mahmood, Director of I2C Mian Salman Arif, Chief Executive of March Denim Abdul Aleem Bhatti, Chief Executive of CCL Pharma Sajidullah Ghuman, Chief Executive of Altech Engineering Mian Muhammad Saeed, Director of Khursheed Textile Hammad Khursheed, Chief Executive Atlas Exports Rana Abdulmanan, Director Finance & Marketing of Ammad Enterprises Ammad Butt, Director Leatherage Muhammad Amir Masood and Ayyaz Ahmed Mlik of Malik Siraj ud Din & Sons Ayyaz Ahmed Malik received Export Brand and Export Performance trophies.
