LAHORE – More than 0.1 million people including politicians, bureaucrats, businesswomen and young entrepreneurs visited 200 stalls during the three-day Punjab Expo at the Expo Centre, which concluded on Sunday.
The Lahore Shopping Festival (LSF) was a joint initiative of the Punjab government and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). The LSF held a number of events, which generated around Rs 150 million. The success of the LSF shows that the private sector has both the ability and potential to bring the country out of the economic crisis.
Although the visitors showed a keen interest in all products on display at the Punjab Expo but Indonesian and Iranian products greatly attracted visitors. Senior Advisor to the Punjab CM, Zulfiqar Khosa, was the chief guest while Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema was the guest of honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Khosa said that the Punjab CM’s vision to turn the province into a hub of economic activities will soon materialise. He said that all resources are being spent for the welfare of the masses, which are facing deep trouble due to skyrocketing inflation.
He reassured the LCCI office-bearers of the Punjab government’s full support in all such upcoming events. Khosa said that today, the country is faced with multiple internal and external challenges and all citizens should fulfil their respective responsibilities to cope with these challenges.
“If we are really sincere and serious about getting out of the present economic logjam, we will have to chalk-out an elaborate action plan aimed at reducing our dependence on external assistance and learn to rely on available resources, even sacrificing some of the comforts in the process to achieve our long-term goal of progress and prosperity,” he said.
Appreciating the LCCI for arranging the LSF, Khosa said that such activities are necessary to tell the world that Pakistanis as a nation are determined to get their place in the global markets and will continue their struggle for the economic revival of the country. The Punjab CM’s senior advisor said that the LSF was not only a step in the right direction but will help promote business and economic activities in the province.
LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Senior Vice-President Sheikh Arshad and Vice-President Sohail Azhar said that the LSF aimed at promoting economic activities in the province and the LCCI has achieved the goal. They said that the response of Lahoris was encouraging. The LCCI office-bearers said that the association will continue to arrange such events and play its role to get the economy back on track.
They also paid rich tributes to the sponsor for making the event successful. A cultural show was held on the occasion.
