Punjab's first Commissioner Facilitation Desk opens at Faisalabad chamber

Key Points:

Punjab’s first Commissioner Facilitation Desk has been set up at the FCCI to resolve the business community’s complaints at one place.
Complaint redress will start with the EPA, the department facing the most complaints, beginning with awareness sessions.
Fixed inspection hours and set timelines for resolving complaints will be introduced.
FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik praised Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh’s strategy and called the desk a step towards ease of doing business.

FAISALABAD: Punjab’s first Commissioner Facilitation Desk has opened at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to resolve the business community’s complaints against government departments at one place, officials said on Thursday.

Assistant Commissioner (General) Dr Muhammad Zeeshan told a meeting of the chamber’s standing committees that the procedure for resolving complaints would be framed through mutual consultation. Departments facing the most complaints would be taken up first, he said.

He said the process would begin with the Environment Protection Agency, starting with training and awareness sessions so that no party could claim it was unaware of the requirements.

The departments would then be given time to remove their shortcomings, he said, adding that the government wanted to facilitate industry and business rather than take action against them.

Fixed hours would be set for departmental inspections, with checking allowed only during those hours. Timelines would also be fixed for resolving each complaint, he added.

In the first phase, complaints against provincial departments would be addressed, while federal departments would be taken up later, he said. Complaints reaching the Commissioner Office could also be referred to the desk at the chamber.

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FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik said government departments resorted to sudden inspections and harassment instead of creating awareness or giving time to remove shortcomings.

He praised the new strategy of Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh, saying it would smooth the way for business growth and strengthen liaison between the government and the business community.

He said the desk would be made more effective so that the problems of Faisalabad’s trade and industry were resolved in time.

Earlier, conveners of the chamber’s standing committees lodged complaints against the EPA, Wasa, Fesco, Civil Defence, the Registry Branch, Labour, the FBR, the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department, Transport and Customs.

Those who presented their issues included Vice President Muhammad Yaseen, Dr Habib Aslam Gaba, Farhan Tufail, Sadaqat Hussain Lodhi, Faisal Naeem Piracha and Dr Muzammil Hussain.