PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has stressed the need for improving the ease of doing business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying cumbersome procedures and regulatory hurdles are hampering industrial and business growth in the province.

Talking to KP Secretary of Idustries Amjad Ali Khan and senior officials of other departments, SCCI president Junaid Altaf here on Thursday called for practical implementation of ease-of-doing-business reforms, including simplification of business registration procedures through modern technology and provision of services under a one-window operation.

He also stressed the need for regular coordination between government departments and business community to ensure early resolution of their problems.

The SCCI president said that investors were willing to establish industries in the province but they faced difficulties in acquiring industrial plots because of lengthy and complicated procedures. He urged government to simplify the process and make it investor-friendly.

He also called for action against illegal occupation of industrial plots and properties, urging the government to retrieve such properties from land grabbers.

Mr Altaf termed affordable electricity essential for industrial growth and demanded electricity at reasonable rates or through affordable wheeling charges for industries.

He also called for easy access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups and young entrepreneurs through Bank of Khyber.

He urged government to resolve the issues farced by traders including high electricity costs, heavy taxation, regulatory fees, lack of financing, shortage of industrial plots, delays in registration, poor infrastructure, cumbersome departmental procedures and closure of border crossings.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026