Muhammad Saleem

The Punjab government is going to set up a facilitation centre in Faisalabad to help boost business activities in the industrial district. The centre will ensure issuance of no-objection certificates of 17 different departments within 10 to 30 days. Currently, businessmen have to visit different departments to get the mandatory NOCs, which cost them even months. Provincial secretary of industry, trade and investment Ahsan Bhutta said investors were facing issues related to federal, provincial and local government departments. He said the facilitation centre would help resolve their issues at their doorstep. He added the centre would start working soon. He said all the chambers of commerce and industry of Punjab were consulted on the matter. He said investors would submit applications at the centre regarding their issues pertaining to electricity, gas, housing, local government, water and sanitation, Faisalabad Development Authority, forest, irrigation, labour, social security and other departments. Bhutta said the centre would send a message to the applicant informing him about the issue date of NOC.

The applicant would also be able to deposit the fee online, he added. “The entire process will be monitored by senior officials,” he said, adding investors would get rid of becoming a rolling stone among different departments. Initially, he said the facilitation centre would be connected with the Punjab government, and later with the federal government. He said a mechanism was being devised for inspection of the industrial units, enabling multiple departments to carry out the inspection at the same time rather than visiting units on different dates. Senior vice-president of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr Sajjad Arshad said the facilitation centre was the need of the hour as the investors, traders and businessmen were facing multiple issues in getting NOCs. He said initially the centre was set up in Lahore and the business community of Faisalabad had also been seeking the facility in the district. “We hope the centre will resolve the issues of the business community,” he said, adding getting NOCs from different departments was a cumbersome task. “However, the issuance of NOC under one roof will help boost the business activities in the district,” he added.

Sajjad Arshad demanded the government reduce the gas and electricity rates to boost exports. “Due to energy crisis, the country's exports are facing a downward trajectory,” he noted. Aslam, owner of a power loom, told WealthPK that businessmen had to grease the palms of officials of different departments to get an NOC. However, he said the facilitation centre would help save their money and precious time as well. He said without promoting business activities, Pakistan could not overcome the issue of unemployment and ensure better living for teeming millions. “We need health, education, food and other facilities and these are not possible without creating jobs and enhancing business activities,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk