Annual Report

2018 

Six 

Month 

Report 

The Lahore Chamber 

of Commerce & Industry

AD

Contents 

Introduction 

Messages 

Office Bearers 

Executive Committee 

Members 

LCCI Activities 

MOUs 

Achievements 

Foreign Delegates 

Pictorial 

01 02

Introduction

Introduction 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) is the oldest and largest trade body in 

Pakistan with strong credentials having a large membership base standing around twenty two 

thousands members. LCCI's history dates back to the early part of the last century. It has served the 

business community with great dexterity for almost 95 years consisting of four main phases including: 

pre-1923 as part of Punjab-Haryana-Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 1923-1947 as 

Northern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and eventually as LCCI since 1960. We also take 

great pride in LCCI being the first ISO certified Chamber in Pakistan. 

A 32-Member Executive Committee headed by President, Senior Vice President and Vice President as 

office bearers manages this premier institution. The Managing Committee members are elected 

through annual election for a 2-years term to work for the betterment of the business community on 

honorary basis. 

LCCI's prime objective is to serve its members to their utmost satisfaction. It acts as a bridge 

between the government and the business community, and is regularly consulted by government and 

international agencies on important national and international policy matters. In addition to its regular 

advisory and support services to the members, it actively promotes regional and international 

economic cooperation and trade. The Lahore Chamber is involved in extensive research used in nearly 

every discipline, formulating recommendations and analyzing various national and international 

policies affecting business, trade and industry. 

It is committed to make effective contribution to the nation's economic development through 

to promotion of trade and industry. LCCI is also playing an important role is exploring the potential 

markets for the promotion of Pakistan's exports through organization and participation in International 

Trade Fairs and exhibitions. 

01 04

Messages

Messages 

Malik Tahir Javaid 

President 

It gives me immense pleasure to communicate with you on the 

conclusion of my six month tenure with The Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry. I did my best to bring into limelight the 

prevailing issues of the business community through effective policy 

advocacy at all levels. 

Establishment of facilitation desk for issuance of driving licence at 

LCCI is an ample proof of public-private partnership and commitment. 

NADRA Facilitation Desk for business community at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry is another great facility. 

During the visits of various foreign trade delegations and 

dignitaries to LCCI, an extensive effort was made to present a positive 

image and highlight the trade potential of the country. In order to foster a 

better working environment for the members of LCCI, vital 

enhancements were made in the infrastructure facilities of LCCI. 

I hope LCCI will continue the good work, enabling LCCI to play its 

continuous role in the economic development of the country. 

In the end, I would like to thank all my friends who guided me in a 

very winsome manner. 

01 09

Khawaja Khawar Rashid 

Senior Vice President 

It is an honor for me to serve the Lahore Chamber as a Senior Vice 

President and play a role for the development and welfare of the business 

community. 

I tried to bring the most neglected issues at the forefront. I tried to 

bring the most successful businessmen from various fields on the one 

platform and tried to let the members benefit from their views and 

experiences. 

Moreover, I had regular meetings with different local trade bodies 

and business associations and discussed their issues. These issues were 

taken up the highest level with the Government officials. 

10

Zeshan Khalil 

Vice President 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has always been 

one of the contributors to generate and promote economic activity in the 

country. 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been engaged 

in a variety of activities in the year 2017-18. We gave high priority to 

providing value services to our members in the form of seminars, 

workshops, training programs, advocacy and networking. Our standing 

committees and various events gave exciting opportunities to our 

honorable members. 

01 11

Office 

Bearers

Malik Tahir Javaid 

President 

01 13

14 

Khawaja Khawar Rashid 

Senior Vice President

Zeshan Khalil 

Vice President 

01 15

Executive 

Committee 

Members

E.C. Members 

Abdul Basit M. Nasir Hameed Khan M. Nadeem Qureshi M. Arshad Chaudhry 

Immediate Past President 

Moazzam Rashid Mian M. Nawaz Ali Hussam Asghar Javed Iqbal Siddqui 

Shahrukh Jamal Butt Shahid Nazir Khamis Saeed Awais Saeed Piracha 

01 17

E.C. Members 

Ch. Tahir Manzoor Mrs. Tehmina Saeed Mian Tariq Misbha-ur-Rehman M. Waseem 

Shahbaz Aslam M. Khaliq Arshad M. Bashir Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh 

Javed Iqbal Bhatti Faheem ur Rehman Sehgal M. Naeem Hanif M. Chaudhary 

18

E.C. Members 

Malik Kaleem Ahmed Sheikh Zafar Iqbal Ch. Aurangzaib Aslam Dr. Shahid Raza 

Ms. Nabila Intisar Salman Basit Shahid Khalil 

01 19

LCCI 

Activities 

17

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid is presenting Chamber 

souvenir to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi 

after a meeting at Prime Minister House. 

01

3rd CAC Pakistan Exhibition 

CPEC opens new horizons of development to the world 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Vice President Zeshan 

Khalil, and Director CCPIT Ms. Isabel Dong are inaugurating 3rd CAC Pakistan Exhibition at Expo Center 

Lahore. LCCI Executive Committee Members Bau Bashir, Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Sh. Zafar Iqbal, 

Muhammad Wasim, Naeem Hanif, Nadeem Qureshi and others are also present. 

Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that China- 

Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is opening up new 

horizon of development to the world. He said, “It is a matter 

of great pleasure that massive investments under CPEC is 

further strengthening Pak-China friendship, which is 

sweeter than honey, higher than stars and deepest than the 

Ocean.” 

He expressed these view while addressing at a dinner of 3rd 

CAC Pakistan Summit and Expo arranged by Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here at Lahore 

Expo Centre. Governor Punjab Muhammad Rafiq 

Rajwana, LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice 

President Khawaja Khawar Rasheed, Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil, Director China Council for Promotion of 

International Trade Isabel Dong, Chairman Pakistan Crop 

Protection Association (PCPA) Saad Akbar and a large 

number of businessmen were also present. Federal Minister 

said that economic crisis is one of the major challenges 

facing the world and Pakistan is passing through crucial 

time of its economic history. 

Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that this is an age of innovation 

where changes took place frequently, and “we need to 

develop ourselves as per requirements of the world because 

the nature of today’s challenges is global and challenges 

have no boundaries.” He added that today we need to 

promote trade with the international communities instead 

of relying on the loans for economic development. The 

country’s economy had collapsed in year 2013 when no one 

was ready to invest in Pakistan, but now it is making 

progress, he said and added that all economic indicators 

were showing positive improvements. He mentioned that 

power generation had been enhanced only up to 16000MW 

from 1947 to 2013, the present government had so far added 

7000MW capacity to the national grid, while another 3000 

would soon be incorporated into the system. 

Director CCPIT Ms. Isabel Dong is addressing at 

3rd CAC Pakistan Exhibition Expo Center Lahore. 

18

Governor Punjab Muhammad Rafiq 

Rajwana said that consistency in 

economic policies are indispensable for 

the progress of the country, he said while 

predicting that Asia would make up 50 

per cent of the world economy by 2025. 

He said that Asia, South Asia, Central 

Asian states and China are engines of 

economic growth, and Pakistan is 

situated at the crossroad of these engines 

of growth. In this context, he said, that 

Pakistan would have to get optimum 

benefit of its geographical location for 

which political stability and peace was 

of immense importance. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Jvaid 

said it is a matter satisfaction that 

Pakistan is rapidly gaining the attention 

of foreign investors and emerging as 

trade and investment hub. It should be 

ensured that gains should not go vain. He 

said that consultation in policy 

formulation will boost confidence of the 

business community and it would also 

help achieving economic targets for the 

ongoing financial year. 

About agriculture of Pakistan, Malik 

Tahir Javaid said that genetically 

modified crops have an important role to 

play in lessening the environmental 

impact and improving the sustainability 

of food production. He said that 

Pakistan’s agriculture sector is losing 

heavily due to insufficient utilization of 

biotechnology as the magic progress of 

worldwide- agriculture sector is only 

due to Genetically Modified crops. He 

said that agriculture sector in Pakistan 

has a huge potential. It continues to be 

the single largest and dominant driving 

force for growth as well as the main 

source of livelihood for around 70 

percent of Pakistan’s population. But it 

has always faced two major problems: 

first, productions per acre are lower than 

many countries. Secondly, around 40% 

of production is wasted in the form of 

post-harvest losses due to insufficient 

utilization of biotechnology. 

The LCCI President hoped that CAC 

Pakistan would help 

Pakistaniagriculture sector in 

technology transfer and it would be able 

to overcome its miseries. 

In the first session, the provincial 

Secretary Agriculture Muhammad 

Mahmood gave a detailed presentation 

on Punjab Agriculture potential. 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Director CCPIT Ms. Isabel Dong 

and LCCI Executive Committee Member Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi 

at 3rd CAC Pakistan Exhibition. 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid at 3rd CAC Pakistan Exhibition 

Expo Center Lahore. 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid is presenting LCCI souvenir to 

Director CCPIT Ms. Isabel Dong. LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja 

Khawar Rashid, Vice President Zeshan Khail, Chairman Pakistan 

Crop and Protections Association Mr. Saad Akbar, Convener Standing 

Committee Mr. Jawaid Saleem Qureshi are also present. 

01

RD Issue Will Be Resolved 

Group Photo of LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice 

President Zeshan Khalil, LCCI Former Presidents Sheikh Muhammad Asif and Mian Anjum Nisar with Prime 

Minister's Special Assistant on Revenue Haroon Akhter. 

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Revenue Haroon 

Akhter Khan, while talking to the LCCI delegation, has 

promised to review the issue of Regulatory Duty on 

imports. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed was leading the 6- 

member delegation. Senior Vice President Khawaja 

Khawar Rasheed, Vice President Zeshan Khalil former 

Presidents Sheikh Muhammad Asif and Mian Anjum Nisar 

also spoke on the occasion. 

Haroon Akhter said that issue of Regulatory Duty on 

imports would be reviewed in the larger interest of the 

business community as government considers business 

community its partner and wants to ensure business 

friendly atmosphere. 

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Revenue said that 

business community is backbone of the economy and 

government is fighting hard to solve the issues of trade & 

industry at the earliest. He informed the LCCI delegation 

that government is making all out efforts for the cause of 

business community in the country. He also lauded the 

LCCI role for supplementing the government efforts aimed 

at economic revival of the country saying that government 

takes LCCI proposals seriously and gives. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed lauded the Haroon 

Akhter’s gesture to review the Regulatory Duty on imports 

and appreciated his friendly approach towards the business 

community. He said that the issues of Regulatory Duty on 

imports and withholding tax on banking transactions have 

pushed the business community into depressed state-ofaffairs 

and they are worried about future of their businesses. 

The LCCI President said that decision of Regulatory Duty 

imposition must be reviewed immediately as it would not 

only be hurting the trade and industry but issue of 

smuggling and under invoicing would become more 

severe. 

Malik Tahir Javed informed the Prime Minister’s Special 

Assistant on Revenue that principally Regulatory Duty is 

imposed on such products where local industry needs 

protection. The LCCI understands that protection of local 

industry is important for any state as it provides 

employment opportunities and contribute sizeable amount 

of revenue to national exchequer. But business community 

fails to understand that why Regulatory Duty is being 

imposed on import of raw materials etc. 

He said that business community attaches high hopes with 

the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Revenue and 

expects that Regulatory Duty on imports will be reviewed 

immediately 

20

All Punjab Chambers & Trade Associations Demand 

Immediate Withdrawal Of Rd, Withholding Tax 

And Discretionary Powers 

All Punjab Chambers of Commerce & Industry and trade 

associations, at a convention under the umbrella of the 

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, have demanded 

of the government to withdraw Regulatory Duty, 

withholding tax on bank transactions and FBR's 

discretionary powers immediately. 

“We would gather outside the Parliament if our genuine 

demands are not accepted”, the participants of convention 

said. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed presided over the 

convention while the LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil, 

former office bearers Sheikh Muhammad Asif, Mian 

Shafqat Ali, Shahid Hassan Sheikh, Muhammad Ali Mian, 

Sohail Lashari, Abdul Basit, Aftab Ahmed Vohra, Syed 

Mahmood Ghaznavi, Executive Committee Members, 

office-bearers & representatives of Chambers and trade & 

industrial associations spoke on the occasion. 

All the participants also issued a joint communiqué 

defending the rights of business community and asking the 

government to act promptly and resolve these issues 

without delay of a single moment. They condemned 

imposition of Regulatory Duty on hundreds of items 

through SRO 1035(I)/2017 dated October 16, 2017 and 

demanded its immediate withdrawl. They demanded 

withdrawal of withholding tax on bank transactions with 

immediate effect. Chambers & Trade Associations urged 

the government to withdraw the draconian provisions and 

laws giving immense discretionary powers acquired 

through last four finance Bills to the officers of Inland 

Revenue and field formation which is core issue and 

resulting in hardship, loss 

of productivity and mental torture to the business 

community. These laws have kept a large number of 

potential taxpayers out of the tax regime. In fact these laws 

are a deterrent to broadening of tax-base. They strongly 

denounced the misuse of discretionary powers by the 

officers of Inland Revenue under sections 38- A, 38-B, 40- 

A, 40-B, 176, 177 and urged the government to withdraw 

these sections immediately. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed said that 

withholding tax on cash withdrawal is related to the Income 

Tax Ordinance 236-P and 231-A. He said that withholding 

tax has not only hit the business community hard but also 

affected the banking sector as people have started using 

other ways. He said that new Regulatory Duty regime 

would be hardly doing any service to the economy. Federal 

Board of Revenue should totally withdraw the recently 

imposed Regulatory Duty otherwise its destruction would 

be beyond the imaginations. 

The LCCI President said that unjustified levies like 

withholding tax are discouraging the new taxpayers and 

obstructing the expansion of tax net. He said that new 

strategy will be evolved if these issues are not resolved 

immediately. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that indirect taxes are being removd 

graudually throughout the world here in Pakistan these are 

contributing around 60 percent to the revenue despite the 

fact that expenses on this practice are higher than the 

collections. He said that tax collection was increased by 

around 60 percent from 2012-13 to 2015-16 but number of 

tax filers 

reduced to 0.9 million from 1.4 million during this period 

The participants of convention said that there are 3.5 

million registered taxpayers out of which only around 1 

million file their tax returns. Government should take all 

the measures to ensure filing of returns by remaining 2.5 

million individuals and businesses. The government claims 

that it always acts as a facilitator but in this scenario it is 

entirely otherwise. 

01 21

Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan 

Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman visits LCCI 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan 

Khalil are presenting LCCI souvenir to CM Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman. LCCI Executive 

Committee Members Ali Hussam Asghar, Ch. Aurangzeb Aslam are also present. 

Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman 

has invited the private sector to join hands with the 

government of Gilgit-Baltistan and start flight operation for 

this area. 

While talking to the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, 

Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice 

President Zeshan Khalil, Chief Minister Gilgit¬Baltistan, 

he said that Gilgit-Baltistan is abundant with huge 

opportunities in tourism, energy and infrastructure sectors. 

He said that PIA operation for Gilgit-Baltistan is not 

enough to cater to the needs therefore private sector should 

come forward and avail this opportunity. 

He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 

has generated lucrative investment opportunities that must 

be availed by the local investors. Under this project 

industrial and economic zones are being established which 

will create ample employment opportunities for the people 

of this area. 

On the energy sector, CM GB said that Gilgit-Baltistan is 

not linked with the national grid which is the major hurdle 

of taping the power generation potential. He said that GIZ 

and WAPDA have identified the potential of 40,900 MW 

through feasibility reports. He said that establishment of 

first grid in Gilgit-Baltistan is at tender stage. He said that 

no serious work had been done in past for Diamir Bhasha 

Dam but now situation is quite different. He said that land 

acquisition for Diamir Bhasha has been completed through 

transparent way. All record in this regard is available in this 

regard and a huge amount of Rs. 12 billion is saved through 

transparency. He said that Diamir Basha, Bujniand Dasu 

would generate 4500 MW, 7500 MW and 5000 MW of 

cheap and environment friendly electricity of respectively 

that would reduce the oil import bill. 

CM GB said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif 

extended laudable help to the government Gilgit-Baltistan 

in health and education sector. “People of Gilgit-Baltistan 

are thankful to the taxpayers of Punjab for helping 

generously”, he concluded. 

While talking about the tourism potential, he said that 

Gilgit-Baltistan is the most wonderful area of the country 

and has lot of attractions for the tourists. He said that 

various measures are being taken to tap the vast potential of 

tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan and focusing this sector for 

higher economic gain. He said that number of tourists is 

increasing that is a good sign. He said that apart from 

tourism, mining, food preservation, the area has a very huge 

potential for cement and herbal sectors, therefore, the 

business community should come forward to explore these 

opportunities that offer a huge dividend. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that the region 

of Gilgit-Baltistan has immense importance in geoeconomic 

and geo-strategic terms. Geographically, Gilgit- 

Baltistan shares borders in the northeast with China, in the 

extreme north with Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, in the 

west with KPK province and in the south and southeast with 

Azad Kashmir. He said that it is also endowed with vast 

resources of metallic, non-metallic, energy minerals, 

precious /dimension stones and different rocks of industrial 

use. He said that GB is located at the confluence of world 

great mountain ranges like the Himalaya, Hindukush, 

22

LARAD MELA 

Federal Commerce Minister Pervez Malik, LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid, Vice President Zeshan Khalil, Shaista Pervez Malik , Ahmer Malik, 

Saeed Khan, Bao Bashir, Shahid Nazir and high government officials are 

present on Labard Mela 2017 at Ghulam Jilani Park (Race Course). 

Federal Commerce Minister Pervez Malik and the LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid jointly inaugurated the LABARD Mela -2017 at Ghulam Jilani (Race 

Course) Park. The LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil, Shaista Pervez Malik, 

Ahmer Malik, Saeed Khan, Bao Bashir, Shahid Nazir and high government 

officials spoke on the occasion. 

As many as more than 5000 special children belonging to various institutions took 

part in different activities at the LABARD Mela. The basic aim of holding this 

Mela is to give encouragement to the disabled persons and make them useful 

citizens of the society so that they could be able to play a positive role in their future 

life. 

Federal Commerce Minister Pervez Malik, who is also president of LABARD, said 

that bright future is the destiny of nations that look after the distressed segments of 

the society enabling them to play their part in economic building of the country. He 

expressed pleasure that Lahore businessmen are fulfilling their social corporate 

responsibility by ensuring that all disabled children of the city are provided proper 

education and vocational training so that they could join the main stream economic 

activities. 

While appreciating the LCCI role in making the event a big success, Federal 

Minister said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also extending 

every help to the Lahore Businessmen Association for the Rehabilitation of 

disabled persons as they are an important segment of the society and their active 

participation is necessary for country’s development. Both the speakers said that 

there is a need to launch specific programs for 

training and education of disabled persons. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that it is duty of every citizen to play 

his role for the betterment of the society. They said that over 10 per cent population 

of all the developing countries consist of disabled persons that needs to be taken 

care of by the rest of the 90 per cent 

in the larger interests of the whole 

society. He said that everyone 

should cooperate with 

organizations like LABARD as 

around 200,000 physically 

challenged people are waiting for 

help in the suburbs of Lahore. 

Malik Tahir Javed suggested that 

the frequency of the LABARD 

Mela should be increases and 

should be arranged twice a year. He 

said that the special persons possess 

God gifted qualities but we all 

should make collective efforts for 

enhancing their skills so that they 

could become useful members of 

the society. 

The LCCI President paid rich 

tributes to the organizers of the 

LABARd mela and said that the 

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry would continue to extend 

cooperation the LABARD for this 

noble cause. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that there 

was a provision in law that private 

sector and public sector will 

employ special persons by 1% and 

2% respectively. LCCI will 

motivate its member companies to 

show greater compliance to this law 

and may refer interested members 

to contact Job Placement Cell of 

LABARD in order to have suitable 

candidates. 

The physically disabled thoroughly 

enjoyed the festival as many games 

and cultural activities were 

arranged for them. Many of them 

performed at the stage as well. Each 

handicapped was given a present 

containing some gifts and eateries. 

The Lahore Businessmen 

Association for the Rehabilitation 

of Disabled (LABARD) Mela for 

the special children has become an 

annual cultural event of the City as 

is being participated by a large 

number of disabled persons who 

enjoy all the entertainments like 

other healthy members of the 

society. 

01 23

Efforts afoot to make Pakistan 

attractive for FDI: Chairman BOI 

Chairman Board of Investment 

Naeem Y. Zamindar has said that 

efforts are well on the way to make 

Pakistan a key destination for 

foreign & local investments. 

While talking to the LCCI Senior 

Vice President Khawaja Khawar 

Rashid, Vice President Zeshan 

Khalil and Executive Committee 

Members here at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 

Chairman BOI said that foreign 

direct investment is increasing 

gradually and a target of $ 3.7 

billion has been set for the ongoing 

year. He said that Pakistan has 

lucrative opportunities for both 

foreign and local investors in 

various sectors of economy 

including textile, energy, 

agriculture, health, education and 

other sectors. He said that special 

attention is being given to the 

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) 

under the game changer project of 

China Pakistan Economic Corridor 

(CPEC). He said that volume of 

Chinese economy is expected to be 

$ 30 trillion within the next 25 years 

and Pakistan can grab huge benefits 

as economies of both countries are 

going to be merged under CPEC. 

He said that cost of doing business 

in Pakistan must be reduced as the 

business sector is driver of 

economy. 

“We want to brand Pakistan as 

entrepreneur future country by 

introducing innovations and 

modern industrial concepts on 

SEZs and Priories Economic Zones 

(PEZs)”, Chairman BOI said. 

The LCCI Senior Vice President 

Khawaja Khawar Rashid said that 

the business community has 

serious concerns about the 

declining trend in FDI despite the 

fact that CPEC has brought positive 

change in the current scenario of 

national economy. He said that 

there are 48 countries which have 

signed Bilateral Investment 

Agreements with Pakistan but their 

share in total investments in 

Pakistan is negligible. BOI has to 

target these countries for marketing 

the investment potential of 

Pakistan. In fiscal year 2014, the 

size of total foreign direct 

LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil are presenting LCCI souvenir to Chairman BOI Mr. Naeem Y. 

Zamindar. LCCI former President Tariq Hameed and LCCI Executive 

Committee Members Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Javed Iqbal Bhatti and Ms. 

Nabila Intisar are also present. 

investment in Pakistan was around 

dollar 4.44 billion which contracted to dollar 2.48 billion in fiscal year 2017 

registering 44% decline. There is same trend witnessed in July-November 2017 

figures of FDI which registered 43.6% regression. 

He said that special Economic Zone Act was promulgated in September 2012. 

Among the fiscal benefits to foreign investors, one time exemption from custom 

duties and taxes for all capital goods was expected to turn around the economic 

activities but it did not happen that way. Similarly, under Investment Policy 2013, 

there was equal treatment to local and foreign investment and the foreign equity 

upto 100% was allowed but these steps did not produce healthy results. The 

investment to GDP ratio of Pakistan is around 16% whereas for a developing 

country, it should be around 30%. 

Vice President Zeshan Khalil said that there is a dire need to discourage the spend 

thrift consumption and offer special rates for encouraging the savings. The Bank of 

China has started its operation in Pakistan. BOI can make use of bond market by 

way of issuing special bonds to draw funds from Chinese investors. He said that 

Pakistan is still falling behind India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Baseline 

Profitability Index (BPI) report which indicates that Pakistan has to take number of 

steps to improve its rank among the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) friendly 

countries. 

Zeshan Khalil said that there are almost same countries which are investing in 

Pakistan since long which include USA, China, Luxembourg, UAE and UK. New 

investors from other countries should be encouraged to consider Pakistan for 

investments. There are a number of reasons of low level of FDI which includes 

political instability, policy adhocism, high cost of doing business, poor law & order 

situation and corruption etc. Favorable business climate for the foreign investors is 

the need of the hour for which BOI must take measures on war footing basis. 

He said that wrong perception of Pakistan in the global market adversely affects 

any effort made to attract foreign investors. There are lot of overseas Pakistani 

having tremendous funds to invest somewhere are looking for investment in their 

home country. BOI must take necessary steps to channelize these resources to 

Pakistan. Former President Tariq Hameed, Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Nabila 

Intesar and Javed Iqbal Bhatti were also present in the meeting. 

24

Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which are 

considered the high roof of the world. 

The LCCI President said that Gilgit-Baltistan has a bright 

economic future. CPEC is expected to bring an economic 

transformation in Gilgit-Baltistan because of infrastructure 

development, construction and hydropower stations. Some 

mega development projects have already been started. He 

said that according to the Government of Pakistan, the 

province of Gilgit-Baltistan has a hydropower potential of 

19,000 MW as the Indus River and its six main tributaries 

pass through this region. This potential can be harnessed if 

the Government establishes a regional grid in Gilgit- 

Baltistan to interlink all the power potential sites. It is due to 

the absence of the national grid that the NEPRA’s 

jurisdiction has not been extended to Gilgit-Baltistan. He 

said that Gilgit-Baltistan also has tremendous potential in 

tourism. Beautiful landscape, unique cultural heritage and 

rich biological diversity give the region a competitive 

advantage in attracting tourists from all over the world. He 

strongly recommended the business community of the city 

to tap the investment opportunities available in Gilgit- 

Baltistan in the hospitality business. He said owing to its 

cool, dry climate and availability of water resources, Gilgit- 

Baltistan has great potential in agriculture. Fruits such as 

apricots, apples, grapes, pears and pomegranate are widely 

produced in this region. Dried fruits and nuts are also 

produced in this region. This region is ideal for growth of 

temperate fruits and vegetable and has a low insect, disease, 

and pest population 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that the other sectors in which there 

is a tremendous potential to invest in Gilgit-Baltistan are 

food and beverages, healthcare, recreation, travel services, 

skill development, mineral processing units, hydropower 

IPPs, handicrafts and retail. 

He urged the Government of Pakistan to address the 

constitutional status needs of the Gilgit-Baltistan according 

to the wishes of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. They do not 

have any representation in parliament. It is their demand 

that they should be declared constitutional citizens of 

Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan be made a full fledge 

province. The Government should also make sure that the 

people of Gilgit-Baltistan reap full benefits from CPEC. 

The LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid 

and Vice President Zeshan Khlil called for value addition in 

precious and semi-precious stone sectors saying that it 

would give us more foreign exchange. They informed the 

CM GB that Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry is 

already working on establishment of airline. 

LCCI Team visit Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital 

LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Executive Committee Members of LCCI being 

welcomed by Neelofer Aleem, Head of Marketing Department GTTH. 

LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid acting President and Executive Committee Members of 

the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry visited Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital. Honorable guests were 

welcomed by Mr. Mohsin Bilal, Chairman, renowned doctor of Orthopedic and Spine Center Prof. Dr. Amer 

Aziz, Dr. Shahid Razaq Qureshi, Medical Superintendent and Neelofar Aleem, Marketing Mangaer of GTTH. 

Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid presented souvenir shields to Mr. Mohisn Bilal and praised the 

great humanitarian work being performed GTTH. “This visit by newly elected body of Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry was a real success for our future activities for fund raising purposes as LCCI has 

ensured to extend their full support for GTTH,” said Neelofar Aleem, Manager Marketing Department GTTH. 

The said not only in Pakistan but also overseas Pakistanis should help such hospitals for the further progress of 

health sector in Pakistan. 

01 25

SNGPL to establish facilitation 

desk at LCCI 

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines 

Limited (SNGPL) will establish a 

facilitation desk at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

that will be headed by the LCCI 

Vice President Zeshan Khalil. 

It was decided at a meeting between 

the LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid and Managing Director 

SNGPL Amjad Latif at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 

The LCCI Senior Vice President 

Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice 

President Zeshan Khalil also spoke 

on the occasion while meeting was 

also attended by Amjad Ali Jawa, 

Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, 

Muhammad Arshad Chaudhry, 

Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh, Rizwan 

Akhter Shamsi and other members. 

It was also decided the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

will appoint a focul person for 

coordination with SNGPL on dayby-day 

issues. LCCI President and 

MD SNGPL also formed a 

committee comprising LCCI Vice 

President Zeshan Khalil, Tahir 

Manzoor Chaudhry, Muhammad 

Arshad Chaudhry, Adeeb Iqbal 

Sheikh and Mian Muhammad 

Nawaz to facilitate businessmen in 

connection with their gas related 

problems. 

MD SNGPL Amjad Latif said that 

establishment of facilitation desk at 

LCCI and appointment of focal 

person will help resolve issues in 

shortest possible time. He informed 

the house that new connections for 

industries, commercial activities 

and housing societies are open as 

gas supply situation is better after 

arrival of RLNG. He said that 

RLNG is being promoted as 

alternative fuel. He said that all 

cases have been processed by 

SNGPL. Just a few little issues are 

coming in the way that are being 

removed. 

He said that gas losses are coming 

down while further improvement 

will be witnessed with the passage 

of time. 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid is addressing in a meeting. Managing 

Director SNGPL Mr. Amjad Latif, LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja 

Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil are also present. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that industrial gas connections were 

temporarily shifted to RLNG from sui gas under the plea of gas shortage. He said 

that at present situation is far better than past but still connections have not been reshifted 

which is causing huge 

f i n a n c i a l l o s s t o t h e 

industrialists. He said that 

RLNG is 122 percent more 

costly than natural gas. 

He said that Pakistani 

m e r c h a n d i s e a r e 

already facing tough 

challenge in the 

international market 

and exports have fallen by around $ 6 

billon within last 

couple of years 

because of high input 

cost. He urged the 

MD SNGPL to re-shift 

the industrial gas 

c o n n e c t i o n s f r o m 

RLNG to the old Sui 

Gas tariff connections. 

He also urged the 

government to give 25 

percent subsidy to those 

industries which are using 

RLNG as fuel. He said that old 

tariff should be imposed on those industrial gas connections that were 

disconnected because of some reason. 

The LCCI President said that disparity in gas prices within the country is hitting the 

industrial sector hard. He said that it is matter of concern that there are different 

tariffs of gas for the industry in same country. “How the industries can compete 

each other when it has not a level playing field within the country”, he questioned. 

He said that this issue should be resolved through Council for Common Interest. He 

said that staff of SNGPL disconnects gas connections of industries without any 

prior notice that is a sheer injustice. He said that industries must be informed well 

before the time so that they can pay their dues. 

Malik Tahir Javaid also 

complained of low gas pressure to the industry and in Quaid-e¬Azam Industrial 

Estate & other industrial areas and called for corrective measures without any 

delay. 

26

LCCI & Government of Punjab to hold 

“Green Awards" 

To overcome serious environmental issues, the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Punjab 

Environment Department will jointly hold Green Award 

competition. At first stage, it would be held between Sunder 

Industrial Estate & Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate after 

that other sectors other sectors would be covered. This was 

revealed by the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and 

Punjab Environment Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz at 

a joint press conference at the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry. LCCI Senior Vice President 

Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Vice President Zeshan Khalil, 

Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry and DG Environment Protection 

Ch. Asif Iqbal also spoke on the occasion. Provincial 

Minister Zakia Shahnawaz said that shifting of entire 

responsibility to the industry for pollution is a sheer 

injustice because various other factors are also playing 

havoc in this regard. She said that issue of environment can 

be tackled through joint efforts as it is harming all segments 

of society. She said that conservation and plantation of trees 

is our prime responsibility. She urged the industrial sector 

to avail latest technologies for waste management, water 

treatment and to reduce gas omission. She also called for 

separation of residential and industrial areas. The LCCI 

President Malik Tahir Javaid Green Award is a pioneering 

plan to CLEAN and GREEN the industrial areas of Lahore. 

The main focus of the campaign is to motivate the 

industrialists to take ownership and responsibility to clean 

the environment around their place of work by 

beautification/landscaping inside and outside of their 

factories on available spaces and by removing 

solid/industrial waste around. Malik TahirJavaid explained 

that removal and safe disposal of solid waste, wastewater, 

and plantation of trees, flowers and plants and 

improvement of landscape are main goals of the 

competition. He emphasized that the beautification and 

landscaping which includes planting trees in the industrial 

areas is the first step towards providing a clean and safe 

environment. 

"We the industrialists, as citizens, play an important role 

and feel that it is every citizen's responsibility to take steps 

to improve and clean our environment and not just the 

Governments. Planting trees is Sadqa-i-Jariya . It is a 

known fact that Environment friendly industries not only 

conserve environment but also promote their green image, 

as a result enhancing their clientele and profits", the LCCI 

president said. 

He said that only industries are not responsible for 

environmental pollution. Various other factors including 

rising number of vehicles, deforestation, digging of roads at 

vast scales etc are playing horrific role in this regard. About 

forestation, he mentioned that Pakistan ranked 79 with 

around 1% under-forest area while Russia and India stand 

first and 10th position respectively with over 49% and 23%. 

He said that deforestation in Pakistan not only leaving 

adverse impact on the environment but is also hitting the 

economy hard. He said that forests are not only 

safeguarding biodiversity and acting as a shield against 

climate changes but are also equally important for the 

economic safety of the country. He said that wood 

production, processing and the pulp & paper industries 

accounts over one percent of the global gross domestic 

product. "We have to recognize that forestry is an integral 

feature of sustainable economic development. It should be 

the focus policy corridors for generating new economic 

opportunities", the LCCI president said. Tehmina Saeed 

Chaudhry said that Pollution in the environment is the 

presence of contaminants in the natural environment, 

which causes adverse changes and health hazards to human 

beings and nature. She said that by developing forestry as a 

commercially viable sector, the country can make the 

agriculture sector stable and valuable for economy. 

01 27

LCCI members would get all Excise & Taxation 

facilities within the premises of LCCI 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has taken 

another giant leap to facilitate its members by establishing 

Excise & Taxation Facilitation Center at its premises. Now 

the LCCI members would get all Excise & Taxation 

facilities within the premises of Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry. The LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid and Secretary Excise & Taxation Balal Ahmed 

jointly inaugurated the Facilitation Center while Senior 

Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil and Executive Committee Members were 

present on the occasion. Secretary E & T Balal Ahmed said 

that Excise & Taxation related various facilities would be 

available at the facilitation center for the businessmen. He 

said that it is a great facility that must be availed by the 

business community. He said that such initiatives are a must 

to promote tax culture and for trust building between public 

and private sectors. Malik Tahir Javaid said that Excise & 

Taxation Facilitation Center is a great facility for the 

business community of Lahore. He said that this center 

would provide the facilities of collection of provincial 

taxes/fees, motor vehicle registration, property tax and 

professional tax etc. He said that the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry has become only chamber of the 

country where important institutions like SMEDA, Federal 

Board of Revenue (FBR), Traffic Police, NADRA and 

Excise & Taxation department have established facilitation 

centers for the business community. The LCCI President 

said that Public Private Partnership and a well-built & 

meaningful liaison between public and private sectors is of 

vital importance. The LCCI President said that said that 

strong public-private partnership can help surmounting the 

unprecedented economic challenges being faced by the 

country. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

would continue its untiring efforts in this regard. He said 

that He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry aims to promote trade and investment in the 

country through enacting upon the policies of the 

government and securing a business friendly environment 

in the country. 

28

LCCI delegation moves to Malaysia 

All out efforts would be made to enhance Pakistan's share in 

Malaysian imports of 163.4 billion. 

These views were expressed by the LCCI President Malik 

Tahir Javaid while speaking at a dinner hosted by Pakistani 

High Commissioner in Malaysia Nafees Zakaria in honor 

of the LCCI delegation that moved to Malaysia from 

successful Indonesian visit. 

The LCCI president said that Pakistan and Malaysia have 

close and cordial relations since long and this relationship is 

growing and strengthening with the passage of time but this 

should be reflected in mutual trade and economic ties. 

He said that Pakistan's major exports to Malaysia are cereal, 

textiles and clothing, rice, vegetables, seafood (fresh, 

chilled and frozen), chemical and chemical products 

whereas major imports from Malaysia are palm oil, 

chemical products, electrical and electronic products. 

Other exports from Pakistan to Malaysia include fish, 

potatoes, onion, maize, cotton yarn, woven fabrics, 

synthetic staple fibre, bed-linen, electrical apparatus for 

line telephony and parts and accessories, whereas other 

imports from Malaysia are rubber, wood, synthetic 

filament yarn, insecticides, automatic data processing 

machines and parts and accessories. 

He said that China, Singapore, Japan, USA, Thailand, 

South Korea and Indonesia are the major trade partners of 

Malaysia. It is a bit discouraging that Pakistan is not in this 

list despite good relations with Malaysia and having bestof-the-best 

products in the world. He suggested 

establishment of display center for Pakistani products in 

Pakistani embassies abroad to grab the attention of foreign 

buyers. 

The LCCI President said that the balance of trade has 

always been in favour of Malaysia and this situation is 

prevailing. Over the last five years this gap is constantly 

closing but still the total imports from Malaysia are six 

times of our exports to Malaysia. 

He said that Malaysia and Pakistan have already signed a 

Free Trade Agreement which came into effect in January 

2008. It has to be taken seriously that we have failed to take 

some advantage of this FTA. It provided us good platform 

to be utilized for a win-win situation but Pakistan achieved 

far lesser than its potential. 

He said that the business community is trying its level best 

to make good use of FTA but there has to be some support 

provided by the Ministry of Commerce and especially 

commercial section of our High Commission in Malaysia. 

He said that we want to acquire some justifiable share in 

trade with Malaysia. There is a huge potential of exporting 

Pakistani rice, fresh fruits like citrus and mango to 

Malaysia. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that the FTA does provide our 

exporters certain edge in the form of duty relief on fruits and 

vegetables etc. but due to knowing little about the 

packaging and certain requirements related to certification 

of food items, they cannot make full utilization of these 

opportunities. He said that joint ventures in the fields of 

livestock & dairy, food processing, energy, chemicals, 

Halal products and especially in light engineering can 

further strengthen the trade ties between two countries. He 

said that we need to develop good liaison with our Mission 

in Malaysia in order to overcome all the challenges 

involved in enhancing exports to Malaysia. 

Pakistan High Commissioner to Malaysia M. Nafees 

Zakaria lauded the efforts of the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry saying that LCCI is leading from 

front. He urged Pakistani businessmen to evolve strategy to 

tap huge potential that exists in Malaysia. 

He said that he would make all out efforts to turn Pakistan 

mission in Malaysia into a match-making point for the 

business community in the two countries. He said that he 

would also utilize Malaysian media to highlight the soft 

image of Pakistan as in today's world media is a strong tool 

to propagate information. 

The delegation members Shahid Nazir, Awais Saeed 

Piracha, Muhammad Wasim, Haseeb Khawar, Shabbir 

Bhatti, Malik Muhammad Islam, Muhammad Farooq, 

Mian Faisal Majeed and Muhammad Arshad Bhatti also 

expressed their views about Pak-Malaysia trade relations. 

01 29

LCCI President starts “Economic Campaign” 

for the country in Indonesia 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, who is heading a 

10-member trade delegation to Indonesia, Malaysia and 

Thailand, have started his "Economic Campaign" 

powerfully and had various high-profile and meaningful 

meetings in Jakarta. 

Malik Tahir Javaid had fruitful meeting with Pakistani 

Ambassador in Indonesia Muhammad Aqil Nadeem 

besides visiting the offices of Jakarta Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry, Federation of Indonesian Chamber 

of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Parts Manufacturers 

Association and paper & Pulp Manufacturers Association. 

The Ambassador also hosted a dinner in honor of the 

delegation. Ambassador of Pakistan in Indonesia 

Muhammad Aqil Nadeem warmly welcomed the LCCI 

delegation and assured his full cooperation. He said that 

visit of the LCCI delegation will play a key role in boosting 

mutual trade and economic ties between the two countries 

and pave way for joint ventures for sustainable 

development and economic progress. The Ambassador 

lauded the serious efforts of the LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid for growing the external trade relations of the 

country. 

The LCCI President and Head of the delegation Malik Tahir 

Javaid appreciated the Pakistani Ambassador in Indonesia 

for maintaining good relations with the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry. He said that Indonesia and Pakistan 

have old historical links and enjoy cordial relations. The 

people of both countries are close to each other and share 

special bondage of friendship and companionship. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that Indonesia is a major trading 

partner of Pakistan as among the top importing and 

exporting destinations of Pakistan, Indonesia comes at 3rd 

and 31st places respectively. Traditionally, the balance of 

trade has been in favour of Indonesia. Last year, the imports 

made from Indonesia to Pakistan were almost 16 times 

greater than our exports to Indonesia. He said that the 

bilateral trade figures fairly indicate the economic relations 

between two countries but these can be even greater if 

Pakistan is given more access to Indonesian market. 

Pakistan could not obtain much benefit from PTA signed 

between two countries and that is why our exports are not 

picking up. The LCCI President said that the bilateral trade 

figures fairly indicate the economic relations between two 

countries but these can be even greater if Pakistan is given 

more access to Indonesian market. Pakistan could not 

obtain much benefit from PTA signed between two 

countries and that is why our exports are not picking up. 

"We need to make some arrangements to export items of 

light engineering, carpets, surgical instruments, fresh fruits 

and vegetables etc. at minimum duty to Indonesia so that 

some improvement could be brought in the present 

scenario", the LCCI President added. Malik Tahir Javaid 

said that there is also a lot of scope for Indonesia to make 

investment in Pakistan. Indonesia has a fairly advanced 

petro-chemical, rubber, plywood, telecommunication and 

tourism industry. Indonesia can make direct investment in 

these industries and can also enter into joint ventures with 

Pakistani counterparts. He proposed that these potential 

areas need to be studied and monitored by the commercial 

sections of our respective diplomatic missions for 

promoting trade and investment between two countries. 

During visit to the office of Jakarta Chamber of Commerce 

& Industry, Federation of Indonesian Chamber of 

Commerce, Industry and Trade, Parts Manufacturers 

Association and paper & Pulp Manufacturers Association, 

the LCCI president invited the Indonesian businessmen to 

come forward and avail lucrative trade and investment 

opportunities in Pakistan. He said that thriving economy of 

Pakistan has huge benefits for the Indonesian investors. The 

delegation members are Malik Tahir Javaid (head of the 

delegation), Shahid Nazir, Awais Saeed Piracha, 

Muhammad Wasim, Haseeb Khawar, Shabbir Bhatti, Malik 

Muhammad Islam, Muhammad Farooq, Mian Faisal 

Majeed and Muhammad Arshad Bhatti. 

30

Economy of Pakistan is growing steadily and 

Its consumer market is developing rapidly 

There is a good scope of collaboration between Pakistan 

and Thailand in agriculture and hospitality industry as 

Pakistan is an agrarian country while Thailand's agriculture 

sector has registered robust growth and contributed heavily 

in exports. This was stated by the LCCI President Malik 

Tahir Javaid during meeting with government officials of 

Thailand and speaking at supreme business forums. 

Chairman of the Federation of Thail Industries Chen 

Namchaisiri Chairman, Dr. Boonpeng Santiwattanatam, 

Somyod Tangmeelarp, Achana Limpaitoon, Mingpant 

Chaya, Ms. Kultida Charoensawad, Chartchai Singhadeja, 

Manus Aree, Theeraphat Kaosaiyanant, Ms. Duangchai 

Oden, Parinya Ketkam, Panit Sricheewachart, Ms. 

Wareerat Chansoontorn Analyyst, Ms. Nuntanut 

Kumponkanjana International Business Development 

Manager, Somchai Muyjeen Manager, Petrochemical 

Industry Club and members of the LCCI delegation also 

spoke on the occasion. The LCCI President said that private 

sectors of the two countries must forward to each other and 

establish long term partnership to reap fruit of huge 

potential in two countries. He said that this collaboration 

would help share and technology transfer to Pakistani 

agriculture sector. With aim to attract investors of Thailand, 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that economy of Pakistan is 

growing steadily and its consumer market is developing 

rapidly. He said that Pakistan is emerging as trade, energy 

and transport corridor in Asia and this advantage makes 

Pakistan a destination full of opportunities. Pakistan is 

strategically located. It is a gateway to the oil & mineral 

resources rich Central Asian Republics and is also a 

member of SAARC which together make up a market of 1.5 

billion people. It is also close to the Gulf countries and 

African horn. Any investment made in Pakistan will find 

market in these countries. He said World Economic Forum 

has declared Pakistan better than India as an emerging 

economy. He said that GDP growth reached to 5.3% in 

previous year while it expected that it would be around 6% 

at the end of ongoing year. The LCCI President said that 

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project will 

change the destiny of Pakistan, as the two countries are 

taking ahead the project to its next stages successfully. He 

said that today the world was focusing eyes on Pakistan 

besides terming it as an ideal country for foreign 

investment. 

He urged the businessmen of both countries should join 

hands to give new height to their respective economies. He 

said that Pakistan also offers lot of opportunities for foreign 

investors in the form of joint ventures with Pakistani 

counterparts. The LCCI President said that Thailand has 

highly advanced industries such as electrical appliances, 

computers, televisions, integrated circuits, textiles & 

garments, furniture, plastics. It is the second largest 

tungsten producer and third largest producer of tin. Thai 

investors can relocate some of these industries in Pakistan. 

The LCCI delegation members Shahid Nazir, Muhammad 

Wasim, Haseeb Khawar, Shabbir Bhatti, Malik Muhammad 

Islam, Muhammad Farooq, Mian Faisal Majeed and 

Muhammad Arshad Bhatti also had B-2-B meetings with 

their counterparts. 

01 31

Thailand an excellent export destination for Pakistan 

LCCI chief 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid has said that 

potential to export Thailand from Pakistan is far more 

diversified and sizeable than the current one. He was 

speaking at the Thai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 

Board of Trade of Thailand. Deputy Secretary General Mr. 

Kasemsit Pathomsak, Section Project Manager, Charoen 

Pokphand Foods Public Company Ltd Kulkanlaya Kritnoi, 

Managing Director MICAP Machineries Ltd Mingpant 

Chaya, Thai businessmen and the LCCI delegation 

members also spoke on the occasion and showed keen 

interest in partnership with their counterparts. 

LCCI urges members to settle disputes through 

LCCI Mediation facility 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has urged 

the members to avail LCCI Mediation facility to settle their 

dispute that would save their precious time, money and 

business reputation. In a statement, the LCCI Acting 

President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil said that even Lahore High Court is referring 

disputes for mediation to the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry and the LCCI has resolved a number 

of cases successfully. They said that the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry established the Mediation Center for 

out-of-court settlements of the business disputes in 

collaboration with World Bank and IFC. They said that 

support of Judiciary is making this Center more effective. 

The LCCI office-bearers said that the Lahore Chamber of 

commerce & Industry is not only putting in its best efforts 

for trust building between the government and the private 

sector but is also supplementing the government's efforts 

aimed at economic revival of the country. They expressed 

concern on a dispute between the two former LCCI officebearers 

and moving the court by one of them. They said that 

that when Lahore High Court is referring business disputes 

to the Lahore then one should also approach the LCCI 

Mediation Center. They said that the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry is a premium body of the business 

community and all segments including government, 

politicians and trade circles acknowledge and accord due 

importance therefore everybody is bound to take care of its 

respect. They once again urged all members of the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry to avail LCCI Mediation 

facility. 

32

MOUs

LCCI & MICCI ink MOU to enhance cooperation 

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and 

Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

(MICCI) have inked a memorandum of understanding to 

work together for improving trade, commerce and 

economic relations between the two countries. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and President 

MICCI Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba inked the Memorandum of 

Understanding on behalf of their respective organizations. 

Members of the LCCI delegation Shahid Nazir, Awais 

Saeed Piracha, Muhammad Wasim, Haseeb Khawar, 

Shabbir Bhatti, Malik Muhammad Islam, Muhammad 

Farooq, Mian Faisal Majeed and Muhammad Arshad Bhatti 

and officials of Malaysian International Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry were also present on the occasion. 

According to the agreement, both Chambers will exchange 

information relating to their respective markets, trade, 

economic & industrial policies, investment & foreign 

exchange laws and custom tariffs. 

LCCI and MICCI will facilitate exchange of delegations 

between the two countries, identify the areas of investment 

for mutual benefits under joint ventures. Both countries 

will organize trade fairs or export festivals in its region for 

the benefit of the guest chamber on a reciprocal basis. They 

would also identify obstacles in trade and economic 

cooperation and submission of proposals to overcome 

them. Both organizations will also launch and collection of 

statistical data for exploring possibilities of trade, 

investment, industrial and technological cooperation. 

The LCCI presidents Malik Tahir Javaid said that this 

historic agreement will be proved a milestone and help 

achieve mutual economic targets. He said that Pakistan is 

focusing Malaysia as a lucrative destination for Pakistani 

merchandise. He said that China Pakistan Economic 

Corridor has created immense investment opportunities. 

He urged the Malaysian investors to come here and step into 

joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts to reap 

benefits of CPEC. He also threw light on infrastructure and 

energy related projects in Pakistan and invited the 

Malaysian businessmen for investment. Malik Tahir Javaid 

said that Malaysian small and medium industries have great 

potential to flourish through joint ventures. 

President MICCI Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba also welcomed 

Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries 

saying that it will ensure timely dissemination of trade 

related information He said that Pakistani businessmen 

should enhance cooperation with Malaysian counterparts. 

34

LCCI & LWMC Sign MoU 

LCCI acting President Zeshan Khalil presenting LCCI souviner to Mr. Song representative of China delegation. 

Former LCCI Executive Committee Member Rehmat ullah Javaid is also present. 

Pakistan and China are excellent neighbours and becoming 

the exemplary trading partners. 

This was stated by the LCCI Acting President Zeshan 

Khalil while talking to a high-powered Chinese delegation, 

led by Mr. Song, here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce 

& Industry. 

The LCCI Acting President said that consistent exchange of 

delegations will definitely grow the mutual trade and 

further cement the friendly relations between the two 

countries. He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce 

& Industry will extend any kind of support and cooperation 

to build up these economic ties among the key players of 

private sectors from both the countries. 

Zeshan Khalil said that China is well positioned to take 

advantage of Pakistan’s economic potential and its geostrategic 

location. Let us make trade and investment, the 

central pillar of this cooperation. He informed the Chinese 

delegation that from year 2000 on, we have witnessed an 

ever increasing boom in building and 

construction sector. The real estate business has largely 

transformed and that led to modernization of exterior and 

interior designing. These trends are creating demands for 

various building decoration materials. You will realize 

these factors once you interact with some relevant members 

related to construction and its associated sectors after the 

formal session. 

He hoped that our Chinese counterparts will find greater 

opportunities of business here and leave Pakistan with good 

memories to share with their colleagues. 

01 35

LCCI & LWMC Sign MoU 

LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil is presenting LCCI souviner to Mr. Farrukh Qayyum Butt, 

representative (LWMC) LCCI Executive Committee Members Mian Muhammad Nawaz, 

Tahmina Saeed Chaudhry and Former LCCI Executive Committee Members Mian Zahid Jawaid, 

Rizwan Akhter Shamsi and others are also present. 

The Lahore chamber of Commerce & Industry and Lahore 

Waste Management Company have inked a Memorandum 

of Understanding to act joint in 

cleaning and greening the industrial zones and around 

Lahore. 

The LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil and Farrukh 

Qayyum Butt from Lahore Waste Management Company 

inked MOU on behalf of their organizations. Mian 

Muhammad Nawaz, Tahmina Saeed Chaudhry, Mian Zahid 

Javed and Rizwan Akhter were also present on the 

occasion. 

Through this accord, both organizations will initiate joint 

efforts to make the industrial parks and zones 

“Environmental Friendly” by greening the city and 

ensuring the cleanliness of the markets. 

Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI Vice President Zeshan 

Khalil said that it was a good initiative taken by government 

to joint venture with foreign companies to bring paradigm 

shift in the overall approach of your workforce. He said that 

the contracts signed with Turkish firms in 2011 totally 

changed the outlook of LWMC. 

He said that with the addition of state-of-the-art equipment, 

the efficiency of LWMC was drastically improved. The 

slogan – Clean Lahore – was uncompromisingly followed 

and the residents of Lahore witnessed unprecedented 

efficiency of LWMC. 

The LCCI Vice President said that uniformed staff, 

appropriate change in duty schedules, extra shifts on 

occasions like Eid-ul-Adha, distribution of waste bags to 

inhabitants, efficient collection, transportation and disposal 

of garbage etc. are some of the features of LWMC that are 

exemplary. 

Zeshan Khalil said that it was mentioned on LWMC 

website that total waste collection in Lahore had gone to 

5607 tons. It seriously requires a lot of manpower and 

management skills to handle that much quantity of garbage 

to keep Lahore clean. 

He said that LWMC is required to take well thought-out 

measures to develop integrated solid waste management 

system in Lahore which may be duplicated in other major 

cities of Pakistan in partnership with local companies. 

“By way of signing up this MOU, we look forward to 

teaming up with you to contribute in planning and setting 

high standard of delivery. With these thoughts, I wish all of 

you the best of luck”, the LCCI Vice President concluded. 

36

LCCI 

Achievements

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal opens 

NADRA Facilitation Desk at LCCI 

38 

Federal Minister for Interior, 

Planning, Development & Reforms 

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Saturday 

inaugurated first-ever NADRA 

Facilitation Desk for business 

community at LCCI. The LCCI 

President Malik Tahir Javaid, 

Senior Vice President Khawaja 

Khawar Rashid, Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil, former officebearers 

and Executive Committee 

Members were present on the 

occasion. The NADRA Kiosk at 

LCCI is another great facility and it 

would meet needs of large number 

of businessmen in Lahore. Federal 

Minister said that establishment of 

NADRA Kiosk Center at LCCI is 

part of the government efforts to 

facilitate the business community. 

Earlier, addressing the LCCI 

members, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said 

that economic health of the country 

was frightening before 2013. He 

said Pakistan was considered the 

most dangerous country of the 

world due to terrorism and 

deteriorating law and order 

situation, and load shedding was 20 

hours long while the industrial 

activity was badly hampered due to 

power shortage before 2013. He 

said that people were shifting from 

Karachi due to extortion and target 

killing. National anthem and flag hoisting was a crime in Balochistan before 2013. 

Economy was stagnant at 3% while IMF was predicting that Pakistan would be 

bankrupt in 2014. He said that but situation quickly changed when PML-N 

government came into power and turned Pakistan into fast emerging economy. He 

said that PML-N government targeted four areas including energy, extremism, 

economy and education and achieved considerable success. He said World 

Economic Forum has declared Pakistan better than India as an emerging economy. 

He said that GDP growth reached to 5.3% in previous year while it expected that it 

would be around 6% at the end of ongoing year. He said that PML-N government 

has added 11,000 MW of electricity in the national grid. He said that investment in 

infrastructure development reached to Rs.413 billion. He said that Lahore-Multan 

road section will be completed by the end of 2018, Multan Sukkur section will be 

completed. He said that socio-economic development has given confidence to the 

people of Balochistan. He said that Karachi has become the city of lights again and 

about 100 closed industrial unis have been reopened that were closed due to bad law

& order situation. Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said that China- 

Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project would change 

the destiny of Pakistan, as the two countries were taking 

ahead the project to its next stages successfully. The Interior 

Minister added that today the world was focusing eyes on 

Pakistan besides terming it as an ideal country for foreign 

investment. 

About China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Ahsan Iqbal 

said that this project is a game changer and it is playing a 

significant role in economic development of Pakistan. He 

said that massive investments under CPEC is further 

strengthening Pak-China friendship. 

He said CPEC is a national agenda and has been put into 

implementation in record time due to total commitment of 

both Pakistani and Chinese leadership. He expressed 

satisfaction over progress of CPEC projects. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that 

development and peace are the two of the major concerns of 

businesses. Development requires the removal of major 

sources of un-freedom: poverty as well as tyranny, poor 

economic opportunities as well as systematic social 

deprivation, neglect of public facilities as well as 

intolerance or over-activity of repressive states. He said that 

People in better economic condition are less likely to 

initiate violent conflict both because they are more content 

and because they have more to lose from the physical 

danger and economic disruption that war brings. The 

propensity to indulge in violent conflict is higher for low 

income or less educated people. He said that in case of 

Pakistan, governance and institutional quality have 

deteriorated over the years. In corruption perception index, 

although Pakistan's ranking improved slightly but it still 

ranked on high side at 116th among 180 countries. The low 

performing area identified was overall country's risk which 

includes credit risk, economic risk and political risk. , 

Pakistan had not been able to improve the business climate 

with the result that it's ranking slipped to as low as 144th out 

of 190 economies in 2017. 

The LCCI President said according to the recently released 

World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2018 report, Pakistan 

has slipped three places reaching an all-time low of 147. He 

said that Pakistan is confronting myriad issues such as 

terrorism, sectarian violence, corruption, external 

influence and internal imbroglio that impede progress, 

development and prosperity of Pakistan. He said After 

Army operations Zarb-e-Azb and Rudd-ul-Fasaad, 90% 

terrorism has been rooted out. However, the tail of terrorism 

is still pervasive across borders especially Pak-Afghan 

border that slowly sows the seed of terrorism. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said during the last 16 years, the direct 

and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of 

terrorism amounted to US$ 123.13 billion. He said that 

National Security has become a broad subject with social, 

political and economic dimensions gaining importance. 

The nature of threats is changing with technological 

revolution. He said that CPEC has changed Geo-Political 

equilibrium in the region due to which new Geo-Political 

pressures are developing on Pakistan. So far as the 

preparedness for CPEC is concerned, the governments of 

Pakistan and China have to engage the private sectors of 

both the countries to create win-win situation for all. We 

must develop a comprehensive approach with the 

ownership of all stakeholders to succeed in 

implementation. The proactive approach adopted by 

Chinese businessmen gives this impression that they are 

taking CPEC much more seriously than us. Government 

needs to give right type of incentives to transform this 

scenario where both Chinese and Pakistani businessmen 

have level playing field and fair opportunities to grow. 

Khawar Rashid and Zeshan Khalil assured the Federal 

Minister of the best cooperation from the business 

community to make Pakistan a country where rule of law 

reigns supreme; where every Pakistani feels secure to lead a 

life in conformity with his religious beliefs, culture, 

heritage and customs; where a Pakistani from any group, 

sect or province respects the culture, tradition and faith of 

the other, where every foreign visitor feels welcome and 

secure. 

01 39

40

LCCI calls for soft taxation regime 

for real estate sector 

Real Estate players have sought the help of the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry for revival of dying 

businesses. A delegation of Estate Agents Association, led 

by the President Federation of Realtors Pakistan Maj. ® 

Rafiq Hasrat, Monday called on the LCCI President Malik 

Tahir Javaid and informed him of the issues being faced by 

the real estate sector. Convener of the LCCI Standing 

Committee on Real Estate Amir Qureshi and Co-convener 

Babar Ismail Butt also spoke on the occasion. The 

delegation informed the LCCI president that heavy taxation 

has affected the real estate sector badly which is not only an 

important source of revenue for the government but is also 

providing direct or indirect employment to the millions of 

people. He said that the real estate sector could generate 

huge revenue for the government once it is declared as an 

industry. He demanded to reduce taxes on services of real 

estate agents as they are already overburdened by FBR 

taxes and resulting in less collection. A regulatory authority 

should be established for real estate industry. He said that 

realtors are ready to pay rational taxes but recovery of their 

two percent of deal commission should also be ensured 

through legal binding, he added. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that real estate 

is an important sector of the economy of Pakistan which 

should be protected through conducive policies and soft 

taxation regime. He said that this not only attracts local 

investors but also expatriates and overseas Pakistani's. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that teal estate is a dynamic sector 

and has the ability to attract huge foreign investment but 

because of adverse policies and heavy taxation, it is facing 

catastrophe-like circumstances and struggling for survival. 

He said that real estate sector is the second largest job 

provider and its crisis would lead to the unemployment. 

He said that government cannot achieve its economic 

targets without due support of the business community. He 

said that not breathing space has been left for the business 

community because of the severe issues like bank account 

attachment, political instability and heavy taxation on the 

trade & industry. The LCCI Vice President said that 

transactions in real estate sectors have been fallen by 

around 90%. If government withdraws taxes from real 

estate sector, it would enhance government's revenue as 

number of transactions would be increased. He said that 

withholding tax on bank transactions has also affected the 

real estate sector hard therefore it should be withdrawn 

immediately. He also urged the federal and provincial 

governments to bring parity in the table list for the real 

estate sector. The LCCI President said that General Sales 

Tax on real estate sector should not be more than 2%. He 

said that commission of real estate dealers should be 

protected through legal cover. He assured the delegation 

that the genuine issues of real estate sector would be taken 

up with the Prime Minister's Advisor for Finance Miftah 

Ismail and other concerned authorities. 

01

Foreign 

Delegates

LCCI Chief for more trade between 

Pakistan & Lebanon 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil are 

presenting LCCI souviner to 

H.E Mona El Tannir Ambassador of Lebanon. 

LCCI Executive Committee Members Aurangzeb Aslam, 

Dr. Shahid Raza, Ms. Nabila Intisar and others are also present. 

Ambassador of Lebanon Mona El Tannir has called for well tailored sector specific 

measures to cement mutual trade ties. 

While talking to the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Vice President Zeshan 

Khalil and Executive Committee Members here at the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry, Ambassador said that businessmen of both countries should 

focus each other’s market as Pakistan is an emerging economy while Lebanon 

offers investors a wide range of investment opportunities in all sectors of the 

economy, especially in tourism, agriculture, and energy. Furthermore, Lebanon 

represents a point of entry to a large regional market. 

She said that Embassy of Lebanon in Pakistan is facilitating the business 

community for closer and strong trade and economic ties between Lebanon and 

Pakistan. She urged the Pakistani businessmen to visit Lebanon to identify the 

trade & investment opportunities. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that the balance of trade is in favour of 

Pakistan but unfortunately there is decreasing trend in bilateral trade relations. The 

trade figures revealed that in 2014, the volume of two-way trade was just dollar 34 

million which fell down by 21% and by 23% in next two years. He said that exports 

of Pakistan were to the tune of dollar 30 million in 2014 which contracted by 9% 

and 20% in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The same trend was witnessed in imports 

made from Lebanon to Pakistan. 

“We need to make joint efforts to reverse this trend and match with the actual 

potential of trade. Lebanon market holds a non-traditional status for Pakistan. The 

best way is to let the private sector representatives interact with each other on 

regular basis”, the LCCI President added and said 

that efforts should be made to market Pakistan as a vibrant and growing economy. 

He said that the Lebanese investors interested in finding new avenues and markets 

should be guided to invest in Pakistan. We need to properly introduce comparative 

advantages including geographic and economic advantages in a big way in 

Lebanon. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said Single 

country exhibitions of Pakistan and 

Lebanon should be organized in 

either country respectively to 

promote their products. Trade 

delegations should be arranged on 

reciprocal basis to facilitate 

continuous liaison between the 

business communities of the two 

countries. He said that Pakistan is 

already exporting cotton, manmade 

staple fiber, textile made-ups, 

articles of plastics, rice and cutlery 

items etc., to Lebanon. He said that 

many areas of trade and economic 

cooperation can be identified like 

construction, consumer goods and 

consulting services including 

engineering, doctors & para 

medical staff, labour, teachers and 

IT professionals etc. 

The LCCI President said that major 

bottleneck in promotion of trade 

between the two countries is lack of 

timely information about trade and 

business opportunities in either 

country. Our respective embassies 

have to come up with innovative 

solutions bridge the 

communication gap. 

“Lahore Chamber believes in trade 

diplomacy and for that purpose, we 

always like to maintain liaison with 

heads of foreign missions in 

Pakistan. We feel honoured that 

among the diplomatic community, 

LCCI is greatly respected. The 

participation of Honourable 

Ambassadors and High 

Commissioners in LCCI’s 

Ambassadors Dinner which is 

regularly organized every year in 

Islamabad, gives us more 

confidence and encouragement to 

get engaged with them time to time. 

We look forward to interacting with 

you more often. Both Pakistan and 

Lebanon are members of OIC. 

Despite the fact that Pakistan and 

Lebanon enjoy good diplomatic 

relations based on mutual trust, the 

volume of trade between the two 

countries continues to remain too 

meager”, the LCCI President 

concluded. 

01 43

LCCI sector-specific & well tailored 

delegation to visit Indonesia 

A high-powered sector specific and 

well tailored delegation of the 

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & 

Industry will visit Indonesia in 

February 2018. It was revealed by 

the LCCI President Malik Tahir 

Javaid while talking to the 

Ambassador of Indonesia to 

Pakistan Iwan Suyudhieamri here 

at the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry. The LCCI 

Vice President Zeshan Khalil, 

Amjad Ali Jawa, Shahid Nazir, 

Khamis Saeed Butt, Naeem Hanif, 

Dr. Shahid Raza, Khaliq Arshad, 

Aurangzeb Aslam, Muhammad 

Waseem, Ch. Zafar Iqbal, Kaleem 

Arshad, Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh and 

Muhammad Chaudhry were also 

present on the occasion. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that visit of 

the LCCI delegation is of utmost 

importance as it would explore new 

avenues for trade, investment and 

joint ventures that would help 

achieve the mutual target of 

sustainable economic 

development. 

The Indonesian Ambassador 

assured his full cooperation to the 

LCCI president to make delegation 

a great success. 

“Let’s do work together for mutual 

benefit. It would increase the 

mutual trade volume and help 

exploring huge untapped potential 

exists in the two countries”, the 

Indonesian Ambassador added. He 

said that there is a possible chance 

to collaborate in the various 

sectors. 

The Ambassador also stressed the 

need for exchange of subject 

specialists and sector specific 

experts so that both the countries 

could be able to learn more and 

more from each other’s 

experiences. He said that sharing of 

experiences had no match when we 

talk of any specific product or trade 

with any country so Pakistan and 

Indonesia must share their 

experiences in the larger interests 

of the business communities in the 

two countries. Indonesian 

Ambassador also appreciated the 

LCCI efforts for strengthening 

liaison with other countries. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil are 

presenting LCCI souviner to H.E. Iwan Suyudhieamri, 

Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan. 

Former LCCI Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa LCCI E.C. Members 

Shahid Nazir, Khamis Saeed Butt, Naeem Hanif, Khaliq Arshad and Former 

E.C. Member Mian Zahid Javaid are also present on the occasion. 

Indonesia and Pakistan have old historical links and enjoy cordial relations. The 

people of both countries are close to each other and share special bondage of 

friendship and companionship. He said that Indonesia is a major trading partner of 

Pakistan as among the top importing and exporting destinations of Pakistan, 

Indonesia comes at 3rd and 31st places respectively. Traditionally, the balance of 

trade has been in favour of Indonesia. Last year, the imports made from Indonesia 

to Pakistan were almost 16 times greater than our exports to Indonesia. 

The LCCI President said that the bilateral trade figures fairly indicate the economic 

relations between two countries but these can be even greater if Pakistan is given 

more access to Indonesian market. Pakistan could not obtain much benefit from 

PTA signed between two countries and that is why our exports are not picking up. 

He said that The volume of two-way trade was dollar 2.18 billion in 2015 which 

registered just 1.6% growth in a year. Although there was a slight increase in 

imports from Indonesia but Pakistan’s exports fell by nearly 9%. He intimated that 

last year, Indonesia’s total import of rice 

was dollar 532 million out of which Pakistan’s share was mere dollar 41 million. 

Similarly, in imports of paper and paperboard, the share of Pakistan was dollar 16 

million out of dollar 258 million. I think that the exports of these items can be 

enhanced with least efforts. 

“We need to make some arrangements to export items of light engineering, carpets, 

surgical instruments, fresh fruits and vegetables etc. at minimum duty to Indonesia 

so that some improvement could be brought in the present scenario”, the LCCI 

President added. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that there is also a lot of scope for Indonesia to make 

investment in Pakistan. Indonesia has a fairly advanced petro-chemical, rubber, 

plywood, telecommunication and tourism industry. Indonesia can make direct 

investment in these industries and can also enter into joint ventures with Pakistani 

counterparts. He proposed that these potential areas need to be studied and 

monitored by the commercial sections of our respective diplomatic missions for 

promoting trade and investment between two countries. 

44

Pakistani Businessmen Invited To Tap Huge 

Trade Potential Of Nigeria 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid are 

presenting LCCI souvenir to H.E. High Commissioner of Nigeria Maj. General (Retd.) Ashimiyu 

Adebayo Olaniyi. LCCI Executive Committee Members Awais Saeed Piracha, Adeeb Iqbal 

Sheikh and Former Executive Committee Members Mian Zahid Jawaid, Mian Abdul Razzaq and 

Zafar Mehmood are also present. 

High Commissioner of Nigeria Maj. General ® Ashimiyu 

Adebayo Olaniyi has said that huge untapped potential of 

Nigeria can be explored though joint ventures between the 

private sectors of the two countries. Nigerian government 

would extend maximum cooperation to achieve the goal of 

economic prosperity. 

He was talking to the LCCI president Malik Tahir Javaid, 

Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and 

Executive Committee Members here at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Awais Saeed Piracha, 

Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh, Zafar Mahmood and Mian Zahid 

Javed were also present. 

Nigerian High Commissioner said that low volume of the 

bilateral trade demands extra ordinary efforts from the 

businessmen of the two countries. He invited the Pakistani 

businessmen to enter into joint ventures with their Nigerian 

counterparts in the fields of agriculture, textile and 

manufacturing. 

He said that easing of visa process between the two 

countries could increase the bilateral trade in shortest 

possible time. 

The LCCI president Malik Tahir Javaid said that Pakistan 

does consider the value of strengthening the trade and 

economic relations with Nigeria keeping in view the big 

market of Africa. He said that Pakistan and Nigeria are also 

members of Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 

and have friendly and strong diplomatic relations. Other 

than maintaining steady trade relations, Pakistan has been 

greatly contributing in fulfilling the defence requirement of 

Nigeria. 

“Nigeria is one of the major member states of African 

Union. It is classified as an emerging market rapidly 

approaching to middle income status”, the LCCI president 

added. 

However, this relationship has not been translated into 

tangible economic ties because Nigeria unfortunately does 

not figure prominently among the trading partners of 

Pakistan. 

“Nigeria and Pakistan share a lot of commonalities. The 

two countries enjoy unique geographical locations which 

are strategic in their respective continents. Both also share 

other things in common, including the population and its 

diversity. However, in spite of these commonalities the 

Economic Relations between Nigeria and Pakistan is low 

compared with the size and endowments both countries 

possessed in terms of human and natural resources. The 

current trade volume between Nigeria and Pakistan is about 

$ 500 million USD”, Nigerian High Commissioner 

concluded. 

Malik Tahir Javaid said that the downward trend in exports 

of Pakistan to Nigeria and overall downfall in bilateral trade 

is a matter of concern. “We need to find reasons of this trend 

and also take measures to turn around the situation”, he 

added. 

Major export items from Pakistan to Nigeria are 

medicament mixtures, cotton fabrics, woven fabric of 

synthetic fiber, tractors, garments, and electro-medical 

apparatus etc. 

Items of imports from Nigeria to Pakistan comprise cotton, 

raw hides & skins, pharmaceutical products and articles of 

rubber etc. 

The LCCI president said that Pakistan is capable of 

facilitating Nigerian market with better quality products at 

competitive rates. Pakistan can export rice, electrical 

appliances, auto-parts etc. even at much competitive rates. 

He said that there is a dire need to identify more tradable 

products to enhance mutual trade. Likewise, sharing of 

expertise in oil and gas sector can also be initiated on 

priority. 

He said that Pakistan is known around the globe for its 

textile products, sports goods, surgical instruments, rice, 

carpets, footwear and so many other consumable items, 

which still need to be properly introduced in African 

markets. He said that market research should be conducted 

regarding the range of products and priority may be given to 

each other for import of products. The LCCI president said 

that frequent exchange of trade delegations, continuous 

liaison and exchange of information can prove important 

instruments to strengthen our trade and investment 

relations. 

01 45

Ambassador of Romania H.E. Nicolaie 

GOIA visits LCCI to boost trade volume 

LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil are presenting LCCI 

souvenir to H.E. Ambassador of Romania Nicolaie GOIA. Honorary Consul of Romania of Lahore Mr. Usmaan 

Peerzada is also prominent. LCCI Executive Committee Members Muhammad Wasim, Khaleeque Arshad and 

Former Executive Committee Member Mian Zahid Jawaid and others are also present. 

46 

Ambassador of Romania Nicolaie GOIA has said that there 

is a lot of room for promotion of trade between the two 

countries. Private sectors of the both countries should 

intensify B-2-B ties and Romanian Embassy is ready to 

extend full cooperation in this regard. 

While talking to the LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja 

Khawar Rasheed, Vice President Zeshan Khalil and 

Executive Committee members here at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Romanian 

Ambassador said that to boost the existing trade volume, 

some extra ordinary efforts are required. He said that 

Romania has vast business opportunities. Pakistani 

businessmen should come forward and avail these 

opportunities. 

The Ambassador said that Pakistan is a resourceful country. 

It has all weathers, vast fertile land, best quality fruits & 

vegetable. He said that Romanian investors are keen to step 

in joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts. He said 

that exchange of delegations between Romania and 

Pakistan can help boost the bilateral trade volume which at 

the moment does not match the potential exist in the two 

countries. 

The LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid 

said that Romania has been the fastest growing economy of 

the European Union for second consecutive year and is the 

7th largest market in EU. Pakistan and Romania have 

longstanding cooperation in political, economic, cultural 

and scientific fields. Pakistan-Romanian relationship had 

many aspects evolved since the establishment of 

diplomatic relations in 1964. 

He said that Pakistan and Romania had developed strong 

economic, trade and cultural relations rooted in decades old 

history and presently both countries are looking to expand 

economic cooperation besides enhancing their 

import and export ties. He appreciated the support 

provided by Romania to Pakistan for acquiring the 

Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) with European 

Union (EU) countries. 

The LCCI Senior Vice President said that with respect to 

trade, both countries could greatly benefit from each other. 

Total exports from Pakistan to Romania in 2014 were 

around 25 million dollar that dropped to 21 million dollars 

in 2016. Whereas imports from Romania in 2014 were 

above 167 million dollars which dropped to 85 million 

dollars in 2016. The bilateral trade figure for the year 2016 

is more than $107 million. 

He said that there is huge potential for Pakistani exports of 

Footwear, gaiters, parts of such articles and tools, 

implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal. 

Romanian imports from Pakistan include cotton, surgical 

instruments and shoes, while Pakistan among other things 

had started to increase demand for Romanian flowers and 

canola for its oil industry. 

The LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil said that a number 

of projects were set up in Pakistan with Romanian 

assistance. Some years back, an oil refinery in Karachi and 

two cement plants in Lasbella and Kohat were jointly 

established. There are other areas of economic cooperation 

like energy, IT, pharmaceutical and engineering etc. 

“Finally, we would also like to have a meaningful follow-up 

of your visit by more frequent exchange of delegations 

from both sides. We will be more than pleased to organize a 

visit of the Romanian businessmen to Pakistan, especially 

to Lahore under the umbrella of the Romanian Embassy”, 

the LCCI Vice President concluded. Khaliq Arshad and 

Muhammd Wasim also spoke on the occasion.

UAE Ambassador-LCCI chief for more 

trade between the two countries 

Ambassador of UAE H.E Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem 

Al Zaabi has said that Pakistan and UAE have historic 

friendly relations and close bond of common faith. Both 

countries should draw a roadmap to cement mutual trade 

and economic ties. He was talking to the LCCI President 

Malik Tahir Javaid, Vice President Zeshan Khalil and 

Executive Committee Members at the Lahore Chamber of 

Commerce & Industry. The Ambassador said that exchange 

of trade delegations, participation in each other's fairs and 

exhibitions, protection to foreign investments and timely 

dissemination of trade related informed would now be 

pursued with a new strategy. He said that such visits will 

help strengthen greater cooperation between the two sides. 

He said that UAE greatly values its deep-rooted relations 

with Pakistan and committed to further consolidate the 

existing economic ties. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that Pakistan 

really eager to make best use of each other's strength and 

UAE Embassy in Pakistan can play vital role in this 

connection. He said that Pakistan and UAE are members of 

Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States and both 

countries have close, friendly, and cooperative relations. 

He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

would arrange a trade delegation for UAE soon to find out 

new avenues for mutual cooperation. He called for 

establishment of display centers for Pakistani products in 

UAE and also urged for restriction free exports of Pakistani 

pharmaceutical sector to UAE. He said that UAE and 

Pakistan are major economic and trading partners. Among 

the top importing and exporting countries for Pakistan, 

UAE comes at 2nd and 7th places respectively. The balance 

of trade has always been in favour of UAE because major 

share of imports made from UAE consist of oils. He said 

that there was a dip in bilateral trade from 2014 to 2015 but 

in 2016, almost 5% increase was registered in it because of 

8% rise in total imports made by Pakistan from UAE. When 

the value of imports went up to dollar 6,202 million, it 

brought bilateral trade to dollar 6,987 million. The LCCI 

President said that change could have been greater if there 

was rise in Pakistan's exports to UAE. The value of our 

exports contracted by 13% and remained limited to dollar 

785 million. He said that UAE used to be the largest 

destination of Pakistani exports. In 2012, the magnitude of 

Pakistan exports peaked to dollar 2,873 million but after 

that there was witnessed a consistent fall. It is a matter of 

concern for us and we are keen to revive the same level. "It 

is important to mention that UAE applied 5% VAT on all the 

trading commodities. There are many Pakistani products 

that are traded through UAE as a third country and this tax 

has slashed our competitiveness. If some relaxation is given 

to Pakistan in this connection then there can be significant 

improvement in our exports to UAE", Malik Tahir Javaid 

added. He said that Pakistan's major items of exports to 

UAE are rice, meat, bed & kitchen linens, fresh fruits and 

vegetables etc. Similarly Pakistan imports crude oil, 

petroleum products, ferrous waste & scrap of iron & steel, 

polymers of ethylene and propylene etc. The LCCI 

President said that the workers' remittances play a 

substantial role in strengthening the balance of payment of 

Pakistan. UAE comes at second place after Saudi Arabia 

with regards to receiving highest amount of foreign 

remittances. There was 6.7% fall seen in foreign 

remittances in October 2017 as compared to the 

corresponding month i.e. October 2016. If there are some 

issues relating to Pakistani labour working there, these can 

be discussed and resolved. At the end, the LCCI Vice 

President Zeshan Khalil presented the vote of thanks. 

01

Pakistanis in Britain are playing an 

important role in development 

British Deputy High Commissioner H.E. Elin Burns 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Vice President Zeshan Khalil and LCCI Former President Sohail Lashari in 

a meeting with British Deputy High Commissioner H.E. Elin Burns at LCCI. 

British Deputy High Commissioner Elin Burns has 

discussed the matters relating to mutual trade and economic 

ties at LCCI and called for efforts to increase two-way trade 

volume. 

The meeting, which continued well over two hours, was 

also attended by the LCCI Vice President Zeshan Khalil, 

Sohail Lashari, Main Nauman Kabir, Tehmina Chaudhry, 

Naeem Hanif, Shahid Nazir, Awais Saeed Piracha, Khamis 

Butt, AliHussam Asghar, Dr. Shahid Raza, Muhammad 

Chaudhry, Moazzam Rasheed, Zafar Iqbal and Nabila 

Intesar. 

British Deputy High Commissioner said Pakistanis in 

Britain are playing an important role in development of the 

country. She said British investors are reviewing 

investment opportunities available in various sectors to 

take further steps in this regard. She also called strong B2B 

contacts between the two countries. 

The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed said that UK has 

always been a major trading partner of Pakistan. UK comes 

at 1st place among the top export markets in the Europe for 

Pakistan. Regarding major importing countries to Pakistan 

from EU, UK takes the 2nd position. He said that Pakistan 

has been enjoying favourable balance of trade with UK and 

our exports to UK are almost two and half times greater than 

the total imports made from UK. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that Although, there was an upward 

trend seen in imports from UK to Pakistan but our exports 

slipped a little in 2016. These deviations kept the bilateral 

trade stagnant at dollar 2.18 billion during the last two 

years. He said that these trade figures are sufficient to feel 

complacent but there is a great potential to increase two 

way trade to dollar 3 to 4 billion. You will agree with me that 

we have to create joint activities like roadshows, 

exhibitions, exchange of trade delegations. We are ready to 

respond positively to any initiative taken in this connection. 

He said that the Lahore Chamber is known as the premier 

and oldest business support organization of the country. We 

always try to use our influence for the betterment of 

economy. I am glad to mention that we remain actively 

engaged with different federal and provincial departments. 

Similarly, LCCI maintains excellent working relations with 

international organization especially with the diplomatic 

community. 

“UK must come at the forefront of bringing maximum 

investment in Pakistan. You are quite aware of the issues 

and challenges, which are as much of concern to us as they 

are to you and the world community, the LCCI President 

concluded. 

18

Negligible share in Malaysian imports 

LCCI for good trade ties with Malaysia 

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil are presenting LCCI souviner to H.E M. Nafees Zakaria Pakistan High Commissioner 

designate to Malaysia. LCCI Executive Committee Members Awais Saeed Piracha, Zafar Iqbal 

and Ms. Nabila Intisar are also present. 

he LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed has said that Pakistan 

and Malaysia have close and cordial relations but mutual 

trade ties are not as good as these should be. Pakistan has a 

negligible share in Malaysian imports of over $ 140 billion. 

He was talking to the Pakistan High Commissioner 

designate to Malaysia M. Nafees Zakaria here at the Lahore 

Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The LCCI Senior Vice 

President Khawaja Khawar Rasheed and Vice President 

Zeshan Khalil spoke on the occasion while Awais Saeed 

Piracha, Naeem Hanif, Nabila Intisar, Zafar Iqbal and 

Rizwan Akhter Shamsi were present in the meeting. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that the trade analysis between two 

countries shows that in the last three years, we could not 

bring any improvement in our exports to Malaysia. For 

instance, he said, in 2014, the volume of Pakistan exports to 

Malaysia was dollar 234 million which reduced to dollar 

186 million and dollar 152 million in next two years. In 

contrast to that the imports from Malaysia to Pakistan 

increased in 2015 from dollar 911 million to dollar 945 

million after a year. 

The LCCI President said that the balance of trade has 

always been in favour of Malaysia and this situation is 

prevailing. Over the last five years this gap is constantly 

closing but still the total imports from Malaysia are six 

times of our exports to Malaysia. 

He said that Malaysia and Pakistan have already signed a 

Free Trade Agreement which came into effect in January 

2008. It has to be taken seriously that we have failed to take 

some advantage of this FTA. It provided us good platform 

to be utilized for a win-win situation but Pakistan achieved 

far lesser than its potential. 

Talking about huge dip in bilateral trade which was as 

high as dollar 2.97 billion in 2011, the LCCI president 

underlined the need to take immediate steps. From 2015 to 

2016, the level of bilateral trade has remained stuck to 

dollar 1.1 billion. He said that the business community is 

trying its level best to make good use of FTA but there has to 

be some support provided by the Ministry of Commerce 

and especially commercial section of our High 

Commission in Malaysia. He said that we want to acquire 

some justifiable share in trade with Malaysia. There is a 

huge potential of exporting Pakistani rice, fresh fruits like 

citrus and mango to Malaysia. 

Malik Tahir Javed said that the FTA does provide our 

exporters certain edge in the form of duty relief on fruits and 

vegetables etc. but due to knowing little about the 

packaging and certain requirements related to certification 

of food items, they cannot make full utilization of these 

opportunities. He said that joint ventures in the fields of 

livestock & dairy, food processing, energy, chemicals, 

Halal products and especially in light engineering can 

further strengthen the trade ties between two countries. He 

said that we need to develop good liaison with our Mission 

in Malaysia in order to overcome all the challenges 

involved in enhancing exports to Malaysia. 

Earlier, Pakistan High Commissioner to Malaysia M. 

Nafees Zakaria urged Pakistani businessmen to evolve 

strategy to tap huge potential that exists in Malaysia. 

He said that he would make all out efforts to turn Pakistan 

mission in Malaysia into a match-making point for the 

business community in the two countries. He said that he 

would also utilize Malaysian media to highlight the soft 

image of Pakistan as in today’s world media is a strong tool 

to propagate information. 

01

Pictorial

LCCI Pictorial 

115-participants of Inland Study Tour of 

National Defence University 

48

115-participants of Inland Study Tour of 

National Defence University 

01 49

50 

All Punjab Chambers And Association

Ambassador of Indonesia 

01 51

52 

Annual Award Ceremony of C42

01 53

54 

CM Gilgit Baltistan

01 55

56 

Dinner By Bin Qutab Foundation

Dinner by ICAP 

01 57

58 

Dinner CAC

Dinner CAC 

01 59

60 

Dr. Raheal Ahmad Siddiqui 

Chairman, PRA

French Parliamentarian Delegation 

01 61

62 

French Parliamentarian Delegation

Governor Punjab Meeting 

01 63

64 

Guest of Honor at 9th Interior Pakistan being 

organized by Pak Furniture Council. Expo Centre

Guest of Honor at 9th Interior Pakistan being 

organized by Pak Furniture Council. Expo Centre 

01 65

H. E. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, 

Ambassador of UAE 

H. E. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, 

Ambassador of UAE 

66

H.E. Maj. General ® Ashimiyu Adebayo Olaniyi, 

High Commissioner of Nigeria 

H.E. Maj. General ® Ashimiyu Adebayo Olaniyi, 

High Commissioner of Nigeria 

01 67

01 

H.E. Marc BARETY, Ambassador of France

Haroon Akhtar Prime Minister 

Advisor on Commerce 

01

01 

Guest of Honor at SME Finance Expo, 

being organized by SBP

01

01

Meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan 

01

01 

Ease of Doing Business

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01

01

01

01

01 

LABARD Mela 2018

Inaugurate Facilitation Desk For Driving License 

01

01 

Indonessia Delegation Visited

01

01 

MOU signing ceremony between LCCI & LUMS

Mr. Zia Shahid, Editor-in-Chief, Khabrain Media Group, 

giving briefing on Water Situation in the country 

01

01 

Nadra Centre Inauguration

Nadra Centre Inauguration 

01

01 

Web Tv Of LCCI Launching

Annual Report

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