About Us

About Us

The Government of Pakistan, under Section 3(2)(f) of the Trade Organizations Act, 2013, has provided a clear framework for establishing Chambers of Small Traders and Small Industry in every district to represent small businesses, traders, and industries. In line with this national vision, the Lahore Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (LCSTSI) has been formally established and is now functioning under the Trade Organizations Act, 2013 and Trade Organizations Rules, 2013.

As Lahore stands as the country's largest contributor to GDP and a vibrant hub of entrepreneurial activity, there was a strong need for a dedicated platform to safeguard the interests of small traders and small industries, address their challenges, and represent their collective voice before government and regulatory bodies.

The LCSTSI is committed to promoting entrepreneurship, facilitating investment, and building strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. Working hand in hand with all stakeholders—including government institutions, regulatory authorities, trade bodies, and the business community—the Chamber strives to achieve economic empowerment, sustainable growth, and industrial advancement.

Beyond representation, the Chamber aims to promote and develop small traders, small industries, and small businesses by offering a comprehensive range of information, services, and expert guidance on vital areas such as research and development, business policy dialogue, fair trade practices, human resource development, occupational safety, e-commerce, import/export facilitation, environmental management, and industry development.

Through its one-window facilitation system, LCSTSI ensures that members receive all necessary assistance under one roof. It provides an inclusive forum for debate and discussion, opportunities for collaboration with national and international business communities, and extensive support for innovation, training, and capacity building.

The establishment of LCSTSI marks a new era of progress for Lahore's small business community—empowering them to play a decisive role in Pakistan's economic and industrial growth.

Lahore Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry Object and Aims

Lahore Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (LCSTSI), intends to promote and develop the small traders, small industries and small businesses in Lahore in particular and in other regions in general with a wide range of information and services on issues such as research & development, dialogue arrangements, fair business practices, employee & employer relations & HR including expert help and advice on the new work choices, legislation, occupational safety and health, workers compensation, apprenticeships and traineeships, legal representation and advice, business visas and skilled migration, training and development, e-commerce and website design, importing, exporting, industry development, environmental management and more.

For potential of the chamber aims to provide a one-window facility whereby they will be able to receive all the required assistance and facilitation under one roof alone. For established Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry, the Chamber will provide a forum for debate and discussion, the opportunity to interact with both local and international small business community personal as well as facilitates for research the following services to its members.

Services to Members

  1. Human Resource Training and Development of entrepreneurial skills.
  2. Development of industrial clusters.
  3. Provision of business development service to SMEs in all areas of business management.
  4. Facilitation in procuring loans to existing and potential entrepreneurs.
  5. Legal and advisory services to entrepreneurs in terms of taxation, banking and accountancy.
  6. Marketing services to the deserving members so as to uplift their business.
  7. Financial advice to small business especially those engaged in the small industries.
  8. For potential Lahore Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry aim to provide such facilities whereby they will be able to receive all the required assistance and facilitation under roof alone.
  9. The Small Chamber also aims to provide Research and Development facilities to the existing small business community, so as to begin and continue their interaction with the national and international delegates. To work on capacity building of different classes of small traders, small industries and small businesses, provision of all encompassing facility for office space, product showcasing, exhibition sale, training and for promotion of entrepreneurial culture.
  10. Formulating schemes for the developments of handicrafts, hydal projects, fisheries, Tourisms Corporation and domestic handmade product. Education in the field of product designing and adoption etc.
  11. Training of local level through foreign delegates and at Executive level so as to create and improve awareness among them.
  12. To provide support to capable small business community ventures in the province by removing handicaps as regard to business infrastructure, business development and by providing conducive business environment.
  13. To provide a forum for local level of Lahore where they can discuss, debate, identify and resolve issues pertinent to promoting their business interest.
  14. To highlight solutions to the problem faced by different small traders, small industries and small business community in first establishing and then expanding their business interest.
  15. To create a network linking local small traders, small industrial to all over Pakistan so that they can solve their problems by mutual interaction and assistance.
  16. To invite delegation of foreigner small business community from other countries to interest with and impart training to local small business community which should lead to mutually beneficial relationships.
  17. To equip local entrepreneurs with required skills.
  18. To organize seminars, workshops and conferences for the purposes of raising awareness amongst the general public and disseminating information on different issues.
  19. To instill in members the need for research and to help them in developing such modalities.
  20. To create a network with other like minded organizations.

Sectoral Brief containing size and nature of Trade

  • To establish a unified platform for small traders and small industries in Lahore, ensuring their representation in a market dominated by large-scale industries.
  • Share ideas with business community.
  • Promote trade, industry and services throughout country and all over the world.
  • To collect and keep a record and all providing of trade.
  • To arrange visits of various parts of the country on National and International level.
  • To promote the science, art and ethics all over the world.
  • To initiate research into the Industry or trade bodies.
  • Number of trading and industrial concerns.

Our main targets are to coordinate all trade organizations within Pakistan and outside Pakistan.

  • To encourage unity, mutual understanding and high ethical standard amongst its members.
  • To endeavor to improve the working conditions of members and facilitate effective input for achievement of objects for which the chamber has been established.
  • To take such steps as the small chamber considers desirable towards the promotion of the interest of trade industry and services in Pakistan or outside Pakistan.
  • To place before Government and other public and official bodies the views of members on matters affecting the interests of trade, industry, and services in specified field of activities relating to the trade.
  • To attempt to adopt a unified approach in matters of policy on all matters affecting the interest of trade, and services in Pakistan.
  • To seek representations on various bodies dealing with issues of common interest of the small traders.
  • To do such other things as are necessary in the general interest of its members including the holding of or participation in exhibitions within or outside the country.
  • To urge, support or oppose legislative or other measures and procure change of law or practice affecting the interest of Commerce industry and services or adversely affecting the common interest of business community.
  • To secure adequate representation of the Chamber on Government public or statutory bodies and on trade and business industrial delegations.
  • To accept any bequest, gifts, donation or subscription towards or to accumulate and province a Fund or Endowment or Waqf and to invest the same and apply the income arising there from or to resort to the capital thereof for any objects of the Chamber.

Objectives

  1. To define the vision, mission, objectives, and operating strategy in order to serve the best interests of the members.
  2. To organize the human resources and operating systems of small traders, small industries, and small businesses for optimum efficiency.
  3. To make the small business community proactive and member-oriented.
  4. To improve the profitability of the small business community in Lahore, so that funds and donations can effectively serve its members and support better business prospects for growth in their respective areas.

Vision Statement

  1. To facilitate the members of small traders and Small industries and small business to promote their products nationally and internationally.
  2. Lahore Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry shall endeavor to provide effective and efficient service provider and direction to all over Pakistan for optimum promotion of trade, industry, professionalism and good corporate governance.

Core Functions

  • To suggest Government for making Policy and Regulations management.
  • Sectoral Business Development.
  • Internal Trade Promotion.
  • Business Information Management.
  • Positive image promotion of Trade & Industry.

Mission Statement

  • To provide facilitation for growth and development of trade through provision of relevant and timely information and advices.
  • To promote professionalism upto the international standard.

Supportive Functions

  • Research & Development.
  • Human Resource Management.
  • Administration.
  • Communication.
  • Event Management.
  • Public Relations & Protocol.
  • Record Management.

Key Responsibilities

  • Effective Government interface for formulation and implementation of business oriented policies.
  • Effective redress business problems.
  • Promotion of all sectors and subsectors of traders business community.
  • Promotion of Country internal trade business.
  • Making positive contribution towards development of small trader community.

Membership Criteria

"small traders and small business" means a member of trade organization whose number of employees is less than twenty, annual business turnover ranges between two million rupees to twenty million rupees, all utility bills do not exceed one million rupees per annum and neither such small trader or small business is owned or controlled by a Provincial Government nor it carries on trade or business confined to only one Province; and

"small industry" means a member of trade organization which is a manufacturing concern having an industry less than twenty employees, whose annual turnover ranges between two million rupees to twenty million rupees, utility bills do not exceed one million rupees per annum, and is neither owned or controlled by a Provincial Government nor carries on trade or business confined to only one Province.