LCCI launches Rs100m war fund in support of armed forces

LAHORE: In a bold expression of national solidarity, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has announced the launch of a Rs100 million war fund to support Pakistan’s armed forces in light of increasing regional tensions and evolving security challenges.

The initiative, spearheaded by LCCI President Mian Abu Zar Shad, underscores the business community’s unwavering commitment to national defence and sovereignty. Shad personally assured Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir that the country’s business community stands ready to make any sacrifice necessary for the protection of Pakistan.

Speaking to Jang in an exclusive interview, Mian Abu Zar Shad emphasised that Pakistan’s armed forces represent the nation’s “true strategic asset,” and reiterated that the business fraternity will leave no stone unturned in backing the military during times of crisis. He stated that the 46,000 members of the Lahore Chamber, along with the broader commercial and industrial sectors across Pakistan, are united with the armed forces and stand like a “steel wall” in their support.

The war fund, he explained, is a step toward creating a sustainable and transparent mechanism to support the armed forces in critical areas, including defence operations, internal security and emergency response.

Mian Abu Zar Shad also extended a strategic set of policy recommendations to the government. Among them is a temporary increase of 1% in the turnover tax and a Rs5 per liter hike in petroleum prices which, according to his calculations, could generate up to Rs1 billion per day. These funds, he explained, would be directed toward strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and emergency readiness.