GUJRANWALA: The newly elected leadership of the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has taken a major initiative to address environmental issues confronting the business and industrial community by holding an important meeting with representatives of the Metal and Scrap Associations.The meeting was chaired by newly elected GCCI President Sheikh Ghulam Hussain Judge and attended by Senior Vice President Muhammad Arshad Mughal, Vice President Rana Muhammad Farhan Asghar, former president and Business Group Chairman Rana Nasir, executive members and a large number of traders associated with the two associations.At the outset, representatives of the associations congratulated the newly elected GCCI leadership on its historic electoral victory and formally assuming charge, presenting bouquets to the president, senior vice president and vice president.
During the meeting, representatives of the Metal and Scrap Associations expressed serious concerns over inspections, notices and challans issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to industrial units. They said many businesses were already complying with environmental regulations by installing air pollution control and filtration plants, while industries that still required installation of such systems should be provided reasonable time to meet the requirements without disrupting their operations.Addressing the meeting, GCCI President Sheikh Ghulam Hussain Judge assured the business community of the Chamber’s full support and said the dignity of traders and industrial development would not be compromised. He said the Chamber would seek a permanent and sustainable solution instead of adopting a temporary approach.He announced that an industrial committee would be constituted to formally engage with the EPA, the Secretary Environment and the provincial government on legal and administrative grounds and to resolve the issues faced by the industrial community.
Former GCCI President and Business Group Chairman Rana Nasir proposed a technical approach, stressing the need to compile accurate category-wise data of industries, fuels and furnaces so that the business community’s position could be presented effectively before the government.Senior Vice President Muhammad Arshad Mughal said a meeting with senior EPA officials would soon be arranged to present the concerns of traders and industrialists. He also said the Chamber would urge the government to introduce a uniform policy and facilitate different industrial sectors through practical and easier compliance requirements.
