LAHORE, March 23: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi assured the traders’ community on Friday that the government would consider abolishing the professional tax to facilitate them.

He gave this assurance while addressing a meeting of the Quami Tajir Ittehad representatives here.

The chief minister said the country had been saved from bankruptcy and the confidence of foreign investors restored owing to tax reforms and economic and social policies of the government.

He claimed that the government had not ignored any segment of society in every budget presented during the last four years.

He said the development budget of Punjab had reached a record level. He said three industrial estates would be established along the Lahore-Sialkot motorway besides two science and technology universities with the cooperation of Germany and Sweden.

He said due to the private-public partnership, local and foreign investment was increasing day by day. Implementation of mega projects in Lahore was being made with the cooperation of various countries as a result of which poverty and unemployment were being reduced.

He directed town nazims to take steps for the removal of encroachments from markets, and asked the Social Security Department to establish dispensaries there.

Pervaiz Elahi said the new system of traffic management had been introduced with the cooperation of Singapore. He said parking plazas would be constructed to solve traffic problem, and the system of mechanical parking was being reviewed with the cooperation of a Korean company.

He said Lahore, a city of historic and cultural importance, had become a centre of attraction for tourists and investors; therefore, special attention was being paid to its development.

He said electricity wires would be laid underground so that the beautification of the city could be enhanced. In order to make the dirty water clean and usable, a treatment plant was being installed with the cooperation of a French firm.

The chief minister told the audience that said steps were being taken for the resolution of problems of Liberty, Anarkali and other markets.

Qaumi Tajir Ittehad president Irfan Iqbal said the traders’ community intended to do its business peacefully and it would not allow anyone to use its platform. He demanded that the elements trying to create a chaos and anarchy in the country should be exposed.

Other trade leaders rejected the strike call for March 26.