Industrial Development a Top Priority Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Vision — SACM Zeeshan Malik
He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision focuses on transforming Punjab into the industrial hub of South Asia, ensuring employment opportunities, value addition, and enhanced exports.
Qasim Bukhari-Pakistan with Voice of Germany Urdu News — Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Industries Zeeshan Malik has said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is fully committed to industrial expansion and sustainable economic development across the province. He stated that priority measures for industrial development form a key component of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s long-term economic policy.
He expressed these views during a high-level meeting with the Ferozepur Road Industrial Estate Association (FIRA) officials in Lahore today. The meeting was attended by leading industrialists, representatives of trade bodies, and senior government officials.
Zeeshan Malik emphasized that the PML-N government is actively pursuing the establishment of new industrial zones and special economic corridors across Punjab to attract both domestic and foreign investment. He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision focuses on transforming Punjab into the industrial hub of South Asia, ensuring employment opportunities, value addition, and enhanced exports.
“Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif accords top priority to strengthening the industrial base of Punjab. The government is implementing comprehensive reforms to facilitate investors, reduce operational costs, and promote ease of doing business,” Zeeshan Malik stated.
He informed the participants about the progress of several development projects currently underway under the Lahore Development Program, a flagship initiative launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to improve infrastructure, roads, drainage, and connectivity in industrial areas.
Zeeshan Malik assured the business community that the Punjab government is taking all possible measures to resolve challenges faced by industries, particularly in areas related to energy supply, infrastructure improvement, and regulatory simplification. He added that under the directives of the Chief Minister, all relevant departments, including WASA, LDA, and the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC), have been instructed to expedite ongoing development works in industrial zones.
He further said that the government maintains close coordination with chambers of commerce and business associations across Punjab to ensure that the voices of industrialists are reflected in policy decisions.
“We are incorporating the recommendations of trade and industry into our policy and budgetary frameworks. The government’s focus is on partnership, not bureaucracy,” he added.
The SACM reiterated that industrial progress is the cornerstone of national prosperity and that the PML-N has always pursued pro-industry, pro-business policies, including steps to reduce electricity costs, provide tax relief to exporters, and improve overall competitiveness.
During the meeting, participants discussed in detail the industrial challenges, infrastructure upgrades, investment opportunities, and measures to enhance productivity in the Ferozepur Road Industrial Estate and other industrial clusters. The industrialists presented their concerns regarding electricity and gas supply, road maintenance, and the timely completion of WASA’s development works, calling for swift action by the concerned departments.
Zeeshan Malik assured them that all legitimate concerns would be addressed on a priority basis and directed relevant officials to submit progress reports within the coming weeks. He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s administration is dedicated to ensuring a business-friendly environment through transparency, efficiency, and sustainable industrial planning.
Prominent industrialists including Khawaja Shagziab Akram, Ehtisham-ul-Haq, Shafiq Ahmad Butt, and Adnan Khalid Butt appreciated the pro-industry vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and commended the business-friendly policies of the PML-N government. They lauded the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and facilitate investors, terming it a positive step toward reviving industrial confidence and accelerating economic growth.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation between the government and the private sector, establish a joint working group to monitor the progress of industrial projects, and hold regular review meetings to ensure effective implementation of development initiatives.
Zeeshan Malik reaffirmed that the Punjab government will continue to work hand-in-hand with industrialists to achieve the shared goal of industrial modernization, job creation, and sustainable economic growth, making Punjab a model of industrial progress for the entire country.
