LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Punjab government to review the fee being charged by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for land conversion.

“The LDA charges 20pc of commercial value as per the DC rate for conversion of land used by the existing industry, which is very high as well as an impediment to the growth of the industry. It should be abolished with immediate effect,” LCCI acting President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan said in a meeting with a Punjab government delegation, led by the CM’s adviser for business and commerce Nasir Salman Bashir on Saturday.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative also expressed concerns at the water tariff on the industry and commercial consumers in Lahore, which, according to him, was also very high as compared to other major cities of the province.

“We all are unanimous that water tariff for industrial and commercial use in the provincial capital of Lahore should be revised and fixed according to other cities,” he said during the meeting.

The LCCI members said the government should include their representatives in the provincial boards and district administration committees on industry for timely and early resolution of the issues related to business matters .

“A committee was also set up on the tax issue but the issue is still pending and no significant progress has been made so far. Moreover, the Punjab government should play its role for installation of water treatment plants in the industrial units,” said Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Haris Ateeq.

Chief minister’s adviser Nasir Salman Bashir pledged to take up all the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry members’ issues with the CM.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2022