By Asad Cheema
ISLAMABAD: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Punjab Industries, Commerce, Investment & Skill Development Department, (ICI&SDD) and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to facilitate the business community and with ultimate objective of promoting industrial development, trade and investment in the province.
Under the MoU the FPCCI, Industries Dept and PITB have agreed to establish close cooperation to facilitate in ease of doing business and advancing facilitation of trade and industry. The MoU was inked by FPCCI President
Mian Anjum Nisar, Industries Department Director General Rana Abdul Shukoor and PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor on behalf of their respective organizations. The MoU was inked in order to facilitate the business community and spread awareness regarding government business initiatives.
Under the agreement, the Punjab Information Technology Board will establish facilitation desks for traders and businessmen at 26 chambers across Punjab while the FPCCI will ensure coordination with all the chambers across Punjab for the establishment of these desk at their office premises, besides ensuring deployment of a trained human resource by the respective chamber at the established desk.
FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar, addressing the signing ceremony, said that the FPCCI, ICI&SDD and PITB will cooperate in identifying and augmenting potential areas of mutual cooperation for improving business rankings,
besides jointly arranging seminars and conferences regarding ease of doing business.
Mian Anjum Nisar said that they will ensure participation in advisory councils, committees and consultancy services regarding Ease of Doing Business. The apex body and government departments will also jointly
initiate the R&D initiatives relevant to EODB and other technology development and research areas, he added.
He said that under the MoU, the PITB will take the responsibility of procurement of furniture and IT equipment under the approved project “Improvement to the Arrangement for Starting a Business (Phase-II)” required
for establishment of facilitation desks. The PITB will also train nominated human resource by the chambers for initiatives regarding Ease of Doing Business, besides facilitating to conduct awareness session, he added.
FPCCI President said that the MoU is aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two organizations to work together for the trade and investment friendly atmosphere in the country. He asked the government to devise a comprehensive reforms program, where private sector should be given the primary role as they are the main employers and beneficiaries of the workforce in the country. He added that abundant availability of human resource, flexible labour laws, and availability of raw material make Pakistan the best place for investment.
Industries Department Director General Rana Abdul Shukoor, on this occasion, said that Industries, Commerce, Investment & Skill Development Department is one of the major government institutions striving to promote industrial development, trade and investment in the province. The main focus of activity is promotion of trade and investment in the province. He said that the government is keen on creating a business-friendly investment climate in line with the federal government policies and present the province of Punjab as an attractive investment destination for the entrepreneurs and investors.
The Punjab Information Technology Board chairman, addressing the MoU ceremony, said that PITB aims at not only modernizing the governance techniques through transparency induced methods but also increasing the digital literacy of the citizens. The PITB is committed to effectively and efficiently provide IT services and infrastructure to the government and local and international businesses, he added.
