PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has assured the business community that their issues would be addressed on a priority basis, and emphasised that the development of the industrial and trade sectors was essential for tackling unemployment in the province.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries at the Chief Minister`s House, according to a statement issued here on Tuesday.

The delegation apprised him of the challenges faced by the industrialists and the business community of the province. Cabinet members Meena Khan Afridi, Abdul Karim Tordher, Mohammad Israar and officials of the department of industries were also present.

Mr Gandapur said the province offered a `highly conducive` environment for investment, and investors should invest without hesitation as there were vast opportunities across various sectors. `The provincial government will extend all possible support to investors,` he promised.

The chief minister invited industrialists to also invest in the mining sector, mentioning that the provincial government had established its own mining company to modernise and develop the sector. Additionally, he announced that a new law was being introduced to provide all necessary facilities online through a one-window system, making business operations easier.

Furthermore, he said that a provincial transmission line was being laid to provide affordable electricity to industries from hydropower projects of the provincial government. `In the coming years, nearly 800MW of electricity will be generated from under-construction hydropower projects in the province,` he added.

The chief minister also revealed that a new lease policy was being introduced to facilitate investment in various projects. He said commercial plazas under the Bus Rapid Transit project would be completed in Peshawar by June this year.

Mr Gandapur maintained that industrialists would be provided with tax relief in order to promote industrial growth in the province. `Issues related to federal taxes faced by businesses and traders would be raised with the federal government.

Similarly, he said that seven new underpasses would be constructed to address traffic congestion in Peshawar.

The delegation expressed gratitude to the chief minister for issuing directives to resolve industrial and businessrelated issues, and assured their full support to the government for the development and progress of the province.