Punjab Ministers Co-chair Investment Companies Meeting

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2019 ) :Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal and Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht on Wednesday co-chaired a meeting of investment companies at Punjab Assembly's Committee Room to discuss Industrialization, investment in information technology sector and issues related to taxation.

Punjab board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Industrial Estates & Management Company (PIEDMC) Chairman, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Director General and representatives of investment companies attended the meeting.

On this occasion, Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal said that Punjab would be made real hub of social, economic and trade activities. Investment-friendly atmosphere had been created in Punjab and all possible facilities were being provided to the investors, he said and added that one-Window operation was also being started under 26 departments of Punjab, while 19 Federal departments would work jointly under one umbrella for the facilitation of investors.

He said that useful consultation had been done with the representatives of investment companies and future action plan would be evolved in the light of recommendations. The provincial minister constituted a sub-committee to review the recommendations and proposals of the meeting for evolving action plan.

Mian Aslam said that work on Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park was being accelerated and strategy had been evolved for setting up of Special Economic zones (SEZs) and new industrial estates.

He was of the view that good governance could be promoted through information technology and investment would also boost.

He told the meeting that state-of-the-art Information Technology Park would be established in Punjab province. Problems faced by the industry could also be solved by promoting information technology sector. Marketing of Pakistan could also be improved by digital marketing and promotion of e-commerce was the need of the hour and "we have to take steps in this direction as well," he added.

Provincial Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht said that information technology industry had pivotal role to meet the demands of future and "we are ready to take every step for the promotion of IT sector." If there was need to change the policy, he assured, legislation would be done and implemented. Steps were being taken for the provision of IT professionals in the labour market. "We are in constant contact with federal government for the solution of problems facing the industry. Lack of linkages is main cause of industrial crisis and steps are also being taken in this regard," he maintained.

Hashim Jawan said that Work on one-window services and investment portal had been started, asserting that PBIT and PITB would be further activated with the consultation of stake holders.