RAWALPINDI: A delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), led by patron-in-chief Sohail Altaf, met Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain to discuss the establishment of a new industrial estate along Rawalpindi Ring Road.
The delegation included RCCI President Nosherwan Khalil Khan and former president Asad Mashadi. During the meeting, the formation of a joint working group comprising representatives of the Rawalpindi and Islamabad chambers of commerce and government officials was finalised.
Members will include Sohail Altaf, Nosherwan Khalil Khan, Asad Mashadi, Islamabad chamber president Mohammad Zakaria Akbar Khan, former president Khalid Javed, Chairman Hajveri Group Tauqeer Awan, Secretary Industries and Commerce Mohammad Umar Masood, Chairman PAIDMC Shehzad Azam and COO Ali Moazzam. The notification will be issued shortly.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the working group would accelerate the project, adding that the industrial estate would be developed on non-agricultural land in response to industrial demand and the needs of the business community.
He said the project would generate employment and strengthen regional economic activity.
The minister highlighted the chief minister’s Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme and the Punjab government’s Pivot programme, stating that these initiatives would promote investment, industrial growth and job creation.
The RCCI delegation welcomed Punjab’s new industrial policy, describing it as business- and industry-friendly. It appreciated income tax exemptions in industrial zones and the provision of interest-free loans, and congratulated the provincial minister on these initiatives.
The delegation also praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Asaan Karobar and Pivot programmes, noting their potential to attract investment, establish new factories and create employment opportunities.
The RCCI representatives emphasised that industrialisation was essential for Pakistan’s economic development and stressed the urgent need to establish economic and industrial zones along Rawalpindi Ring Road, describing the initiative as a potential game-changer for investment, industrial expansion and employment generation.
Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2026
