Lahore Business Facilitation center (BFC), a remarkable project of the Punjab government is an anticipated hope marking a significant milestone in empowering various enterprises, while fostering economic growth and landscape of the province.
The centre, housed on the ground floor of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation at Alfalah Building Mall Road here, that subjects to streamline and expedite the process of getting No objection Certificates (NOCs) and other essential documents related to business operations.
BFC is a flagship initiative of the Government of the Punjab to help facilitate the business community, home and abroad by providing a host of various services under one roof.
These services include obtaining NOCs, licenses and permits etc. necessary for starting and scaling up business. The initiative aims at reducing business barriers by connecting multiple government agencies through a software application. It is anticipated that the initiative would substantially contribute to creation of an enabling environment for the businesses, thereby fostering enterprise creation and operations.
Sources at BFC told APP that the dedicated staff, comprising of Business Facilitation Officers (BFOs) and representatives of seventeen (17) government agencies, including two federal government agencies i.e. LESCO and SNGPL have been deputed for processing and coordinating applications of the walk-in clients.
This knowledge repository is a compendium of NOCs licenses, permits etc. and their corresponding details (i.e. required documents, fees and processing time etc.) for information of the applicants, they said.
Secretary Industries Punjab Ehsan Bhutta said that less human interaction increased transparency and the BFC is based on this very idea. “Our dedicated staff at the BFC will guide further and take up the matter hereon. Moving forward, the mapping of inter-departmental processes will ultimately lead to horizontal and vertical integration and a full-scale automation of RLCOs by the Punjab Information Technology Board,” he said.
He said the establishment of the BFS was a great initiative of chief minister Punjab, minister for Industries and all concerned departments.
“Punjab government has done its job and now it is our responsibility to inform our members about BFC and ask them to visit the BFC and avail benefits,” he replied to a query.
“The members have been asked to let LCCI know which NOCs are not available so that the concerned department could be requested to provide the required facility.
Ehsan Bhutta further said the BFC was a long-standing demand of the business community. The chief minister Punjab had also formed a committee having representation from Chambers of Commerce in Punjab. This committee is chaired by chief minister Punjab himself. He said that a few months ago, Punjab chief minister and Minister Industries Punjab S M Tanveer visited China where they saw this model and planned to implement it in Punjab.
The success of this mega project has been acknowledged at all levels. Now the turn is of the establishment of BFCs at Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan, he informed APP.
Within a short span of three weeks of launch of BFC Punjab, the confidence of investors, businessmen on it, is remarkable. Around 1050 visitors, so far have visited the center, while 840 among have got expert opinion about the project and 210 have submitted applications showing their interest. In this connection, concerning 106 NOCs relating to18 various provincial departments, working under one roof, have been issued.
After the success of Lahore initiative, with help of Commissioners and DC Sialkot, remaining other 5 projects would soon be opened.
In this connection, all focal persons and managers have been imparted a 2-day training. The training has been carried out at TEVTA Punjab Mughalpura-branch training college, regarding client handling, etiquettes, dress code, responsiveness along with knowledge portal–developed by Faisal Yousaf and Ms. Saima’s (PITB) team.
The BFC sources told that it is hoped 5 new BFCs would be launched within coming 2-weeks and all will be interlinked through a high-profile computer link system through appreciated feature of E Payment facility, so that any client can check official fee, documents or other desired online facilities at (www.bfc.gov.pk is website).
Mian Maqsood, a noted industrialist who applied for NOC at Gujranwala Business Facilitation Center, told APP that he applied for NOC of the boiler through Business Facilitation Center, having a maximum fifteen days’ requirement, got it only just in ten days. “I am thankful to Punjab Government for giving the required document in shortest span of time,” he said. I am grateful to Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Secretary Industries Ehsan Bhutta, whose special efforts made the computerization system implemented.
Mian Kashif Yunus, who has built the facility center, said that there was a canal plot number 105 at Sunder Small Estate, that’s NOC have been received, within 24 hours. Once again, I am grateful to the Chief Minister Punjab and Secretary Industries, whose efforts made this system implemented.
A few people who have taken NOC to start a new business told APP about their experiences.
Muhammad Afzal, another client from Rawalpindi said that he was surprised to see the incredible situation here, adding my experience from Business Facilitation Center for getting NOC is wonderful, adding the updated system here is unique that exactly gives feeling of a private company and not of a government office.
Mehek Arif from Faisalabad said that Business Facilitation Center has changed the culture of investment instead of making rounds to the offices picking up files.
Nayab Maqsood, a resident of Multan, said that Business Facilitation Center has also been established in Multan city to facilitate the business and industrialist community, attributing it a new dimension to attract investment. This system, certainly would change the history and fate of the country, he remarked.
The establishment of the BFC is a significant milestone to attract investments and promote economic growth. The collaborative approach, involving various departments and stakeholders, asserts the government’s commitment to developing a business-friendly environment. As the BFC becomes operational, its impact on streamlining processes and expediting approvals is expected to contribute positively to Punjab’s economic landscape.
Administrative departments, authorities, organisations, and companies involved in the BFC are urged to appoint knowledgeable representatives and adhere to standardised processes.
