BAHAWALPUR: The Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has demanded status of special industrial zone (SIZ) for Bahawalpur’s new industrial estate, besides release of the approved grant worth billions for its completion at the earliest and linking the city with the Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahawalnagar Motorway project.

The demands were presented by BCCI President Zulfiqar Ali Mann during the visit of Punjab Caretaker Minister for Industries and Commerce S M Tanveer on Saturday.

Mr Maan added that the federal government has recently approved Bahawalnagar Motorway, but Bahawalpur has not so far been included in this project.

He demanded the process of declaring Bahawalpur industrial estate as SIZ be initiated and iron fence be installed on both sides of Multan-Sukkur Motorway near Jhangra, Jalapur Peerwala, for the safety of motorists.

The visiting minister assured the chamber the government will look into their genuine issues and invited a BCCI delegation to visit his Lahore office for a detailed follow-up discussion with the members to resolve their problems.

The minister advised the industrialists and traders to embrace tax culture. Earlier, the minister, along with Punjab minister for communication and works and excise and taxation Belal Afzal, visited Lodhran and met with the local businessmen there.

The excise minister told the businessmen that the government would widen the tax net and special measures would be taken to achieve the targets next year of the recovery of commercial, property and vehicles taxes. He claimed that for the current year, 99pc and 88pc targets of the property and motor-vehicle taxes have been met, respectively.

Lodhran Deputy Commissioner Syed Mashhad Kazmi and other officials briefed the minister about tax recoveries in the district. The minister asked the excise officials to improve their performance.

SPORTS LEAGUE: Punjab Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman opened the ‘Talent Hunt Youth Sports League’ by a throw of volleyball, organised under the Prime Minister Youth Programme by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB).

Flanked by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Youth Affairs Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja and IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mehboob, the governor said sports academies and resource centres will be established in 13 public sector universities in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023