LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has thanked Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for easing what it called a lockdown on businesses, saying the decision was made at the chamber’s request.
Chamber President Ali Hussam Asghar welcomed the move at a meeting attended by Lahore Commissioner Numan Yousuf and Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Ejaz, calling it a welcome step for the business community. The entire trading community of Lahore appreciated it, he said, adding that the promises made would be fulfilled.
The chamber says restrictions on shops in Punjab had been relaxed. Earlier, shops in Punjab have been ordered to close by 9pm, and restaurants by 11pm, under federal fuel-conservation and austerity rules that began with an 8pm closure in the spring, measures traders have repeatedly said hurt evening sales.
The same day, the chamber hosted a training session on the Punjab government’s e-Biz portal, which lets businesses apply for licences and permits online and track their applications. The session followed the commissioner’s pledge last week to promote the portal through the chamber.
Additional Director General of the Punjab Information Technology Board Haseeb Chaudhry and Additional Deputy Commissioner Rao Rafay Afzal took part, and participants described the portal as a step towards transparency and faster service.
Separately, a delegation of the Azad Group led by former executive committee member Syed Salman called on Asghar. Asghar took office after the chamber’s elections last month.
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