Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has inaugurated One-Window Smart Service Centre at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) today and inspected the facilities being provided there. Usman Buzdar lauded the initiative of unifying all facilities in Smart Service Center and termed the establishment of One-Window Smart Center as welcoming for creating ease in the business. President LCCI Irfan Iqbal Sheikh briefed the CM about the facilities being provided in One-Window Smart Centre. Other office-bearers of LCCI were also present on this occasion. Later, Usman Buzdar while addressing to business community in LCCI, said that best facilities have been provided in the state-of-the-art One-Window Smart Service Centre. LCCI is the first chamber which has taken lead in setting up of smart service centre and other Chambers of Commerce & Industry should also establish smart centres. He said that LCCI has also come forward in the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic for helping the corona affectees and donated in Chief Minister Relief Fund. He said that by the grace of Allah Almighty we have reached on pre-corona situation and timely decisions impeded the spread of Covid-19 Pandemic under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Situation of corona in Pakistan is far better as compare to other countries. Usman Buzdar said that government is determined to create ease for the industrialists and traders. The role of inspectors for undertaking inspection in the industries is under process to the done away with. He further maintained that focal person would be deputed in the concerned departments for facilitating industrialists and traders. He said that only three Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were established during the last 70 years whereas 13 Special Economic Zones have started functional in two years tenure of PTI government. 7 SEZs have been notified, he added. Usman Buzdar said that approval for necessary amendments in the Rules of Business has been given for empowering Southern Punjab Secretariat. All secretaries will be appointed in Southern Punjab Secretariat and will be empowered. He further stated that law and order situation of Punjab is far better than other provinces. Scope of Model Policing will be extended to other cities as well. He said that police was used for victimizing the political opponents in the past but we have empowered the police. 10,000 recruitments are being made in the Police Department on merit. Government is giving 575 new vehicles to the police, 45 new police stations are being constructed and land is being provided for 101 police stations.
Approval for granting Executive Allowance to the Police Department has been given. Setting up of Model Police Stations will bring significant change, he added. Working environment in Police Department is being improved. He further disclosed that work will soon be initiated on the construction of new parking plaza in Lahore. Usman Buzdar said that treatment plants are utmost necessary for protecting the city from the pollution. He said that PTI government has laid a foundation of River Ravi Urban Development Project. With the inhabitation of new city near Lahore will greatly help to reduce the pollution. This city will starch to 46 km long and can store 5.75 lakh cusec water. He said that level of underground water in Lahore has substantially lowered down besides increasing environmental pollution. Setting up of new city will help to increase the underground water level as well as cope up the challenges of pollution. More than 90 percent local material will be utilized in this project which will not only promote and benefit local industries including cement and 40 others industries but also accelerate the wheel of economic activities. He said that no attention was paid on the agri research in the previous regime and no fund had been allocated for the agri research wing. The government has made Agri Research Institutes vibrant. Now these institutes will have to perform. He said that if all departments work accordingly, the circumstances will be improved. Problems of industrialists and traders will be resolved on preferential basis. Punjab government will provide every possible facilities to the business community. President LCCI Irfan Iqbal Sheikh in his welcoming address congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and his team for presenting best provincial budget despite facing adverse economic conditions. He said that the government has reduced the ratio of sales tax from 16 percent to 5 percent whereas stamp duty 5 percent to one percent which is good omen and business community welcome this initiative of the government. He said that struggle of Punjab government against corona under the leadership of Usman Buzdar yielded positive results. The Chief Minister has displayed leadership qualities on every occasion. President of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Industries and Commerce Anjum Nisar invited Chief Minister to visit the federation. Earlier, Chief Minister while talking to the media in LCCI said that he went to NAB on being summoned. He clarified that NAB did not summon him as an accused but as a witness. Usman Buzdar further stated that he will answer all the questions of NAB.
He said that I am innocent therefore I am not afraid and will satisfy the NAB on all questions. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has always trusted him therefore he is holding the office of Chief Minister in Punjab. He said my hands are clean. In a response to a question, he said that Aata is available in Punjab on fix rates and government has brought stability in the prices of Aata in Punjab as compare to other provinces. While answering another question, he said River Ravi Urban Development Project Authority has been made fully autonomous. The authority will its self take its decision and will also deal with its daily routine matters. He said that River Ravi Urban Development Project is a major initiative to restore the economy of Pakistan. This project will flourished more than 40 industries of Pakistan. No previous government dared to start this project. Answering another question, the Chief Minister said that MPA also came to meet him like MPAs. He said I solved problems of MNAs in the same way as I solved problems of MPAs. Maintaining liaison with elected representative is his responsibility. I will go to the last resort to solve the problems of elected representative.