Punjab Governor calls for business-friendly policies, backs industrial estate along ring road

WAH CANTT, Jul 19 (APP):Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan on Sunday called for a business-friendly environment, urging the government to facilitate tax-compliant traders instead of subjecting them to unnecessary harassment amid the country’s economic challenges. He made the remarks while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of the Sarafa (Jewellers’) Union Taxila, where Muhammad Ayub Saraf was sworn in as president and Muhammad Hussain as general secretary, alongside other cabinet members.

The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of traders, political and social leaders, members of the legal fraternity, religious scholars and local residents, who congratulated the newly elected office-bearers. Addressing the participants, the governor said Pakistan was facing significant economic pressures, with inflation and energy-related challenges continuing to affect businesses and the general public.

Saleem Haider said the federal government and the military leadership had taken steps to address national challenges, but issues relating to gas and petroleum supplies still required sustained attention. He noted that rising inflation had placed an increasing burden on low-income households and stressed that both the government and society shared the responsibility of supporting vulnerable segments of the population. He also praised the armed forces for their role in maintaining the country’s security and urged political leaders to avoid politicising issues of national importance.

Highlighting the importance of investment and economic growth, the governor said traders who regularly fulfilled their tax obligations should be encouraged through supportive policies rather than unnecessary official interference. He also endorsed a proposal to establish an industrial estate along the Rawalpindi Ring Road and said he would forward recommendations from the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to help promote industrial development, expand trade and create employment opportunities in the region.