Business Recorder
LAHORE: Federal Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul pledged the government’s unwavering commitment to boosting Pakistan’s exports during a high-level meeting with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol on Thursday, as business leaders pressed for sweeping reforms ahead of the upcoming federal budget. The meeting centred on the LCCI’s budget proposals for the next fiscal year, with both sides engaging in detailed discussions on tariff rationalization, raw material duties, export competitiveness, and measures to reduce the overall cost of doing business in Pakistan. “The government’s primary focus is to increase exports and enhance the country’s income,” Secretary Paul said, assuring chamber leaders that all possible support would be extended to the business community and that the LCCI’s proposals would be reviewed in full. LCCI President Saigol used the meeting to deliver a frank assessment of the challenges facing Pakistani industry, warning that frequent statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and shifting tax interpretations had eroded investor confidence and stunted industrial growth. He called for a stable, predictable policy environment as a prerequisite for sustained economic expansion. Saigol also flagged Pakistan’s cost competitiveness gap, arguing that expensive energy, heavy taxation, and compliance burdens have left domestic industries at a significant disadvantage against regional rivals. Among his key demands were rationalized duties on raw materials and intermediate goods, a sector-specific tariff structure to replace the existing flat 0–15 percent band, and restoration of a simplified Final Tax Regime for exporters. Further proposals included the introduction of a fixed tax regime for traders, a reduction in withholding tax disparities between manufacturers and commercial importers, and strengthening of the Export Facilitation Scheme through real-time data sharing and post-clearance audits to curb misuse while safeguarding legitimate exporters. The LCCI president also called for regulatory reforms to permit third-country trade under the Bill-to-Ship-to mechanism and urged removal of the 18 percent sales tax on packaged dairy and meat products to incentivize investment in hygienic processed food industries. Discussions additionally covered export diversification, value-added sector development, and industry-linked vocational and digital skills training, with Saigol urging government backing for modern industrial training programs tied to export-oriented industries. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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