LAHORE - The government of Punjab, under the vision of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, is taking unprecedented steps for improving the investment climate in Punjab. 
Eight economic zones have been established through FIEDMC and PIEDMC. Colonization in these zones is expected to create over 1 million well-paying jobs. Integral part of any manufacturing base is skilled labor, to ensure that our factories have quality labour and that our youth are adequately trained to face the modern world, we are providing skills and vocational training to over 250,000 students annually. Punjab Rozgar Scheme, with the total cost of Rs. 30 billion has been launched, which will provide subsidized credit facilities to the micro, small and medium (MSMEs) in collaboration with Commercial Banks and is expected to create over 1.1 million jobs 
On 14th October this government took another landmark step towards easing the process of setting up and operating a business in Punjab for our foreign and local investors. It has established a purpose-built Investment Facilitation Cell at the Chief Minister’s office for expediting the processing of business procedures at the highest level. 
The cell is accessible to all legitimate investors facing bureaucratic hurdles in setting up business. It will take up investment cases of those investors which are recommended to it by PBIT, other authorized entities and which approach it directly. Serving as a focal point between the investors and public stakeholders involved in the regulatory ecosystem and logistical requirements for investment related activities. The cell will on a case-by-case basis understand the roadblocks being faced by each investor in its portfolio and develop tailor made solutions for facilitating each investor. 
In addition to facilitating investors on a case-by-case basis, the cell will identify roadblocks/issues being faced at a larger scale by investors at various stages of the investment or business registration process and aim to change and improve these problematic investment processes by highlighting them at the highest level. Further, the cell will coordinate and facilitate the interaction of business delegations with strong and valid investment propositions with CM Punjab and other relevant high level administrative officials to develop confidence in the investor’s community. 
In the coming days and months, you will see the Investment Facilitation Cell green light more investments and assure that wheels of the government work for investors and not against them. It is this government’s hope that through formation of the investment facilitation cell establish reliable and accessible systems for investors are developed that push Punjab at the forefront of economic prosperity in the region.