How to Use a Punjab Business Facilitation Centre: 6 Cities, 100+ Services, 9 am to 5 pm

Punjab has six Business Facilitation Centres (BFCs), in Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. Each opens 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. The Lahore centre is at the Alfalah Building on The Mall, phone 042-99203975. The Punjab government says a BFC offers 100+ services under one roof, including NOCs, licences and permits for a new business.

Starting a small business in Pakistan can mean five offices and five queues. A BFC is the province's answer. It is a flagship initiative of the Government of the Punjab, built by the Punjab Information Technology Board, and it links several agencies through one software system. This guide lists what the BFC website says it handles, where the centres are, and how to track an application.

A BFC gathers business registrations in one place

A Business Facilitation Centre is a government office where you start a business, pay for permits and apply for licences without visiting each agency. The website says the aim is to reduce barriers by connecting multiple government agencies through one application. It describes more than 100 services.

The website groups its services under six headings. Starting a business covers a partnership firm, shop and establishment, and a company. Paying taxes covers the National Tax Number (NTN), the sales tax number and the Punjab sales tax number. Intellectual property covers trademark, copyright, patent and design. The rest cover SMEDA registration, special economic zones and cross-border trade through Pakistan Single Window.

The site also names three outside bodies on its list: the Intellectual Property Organization, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and Pakistan Single Window. So a BFC is a front door to several agencies. It is not a single office that issues every document itself. Expect some applications to be passed on to the agency that owns the licence, and expect the final approval to come from that agency.

Six cities have a centre with fixed hours

The six centres are in Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. All list the same hours, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Each has its own phone number, and all share one email, info@bfc.punjab.gov.pk.

Call before you go. A phone number on a government website can change, and we did not call any of these. We also did not visit a centre, so we cannot say how long a visit takes or which services need a second trip.

A BFC suits first time founders and small shops

A BFC suits anyone who needs more than one registration at the same time. The website says it helps the business community and both domestic and foreign investors. A person opening a small shop, a freelancer forming a firm or a partner group can start with one visit instead of several.

It will not fit every case. A business that needs a land use change or a building map needs a local authority as well. The Punjab government describes a separate eBiz portal for those permits. We cover only what the BFC site lists.

Check the Knowledge Hub before you visit

The BFC site links a Knowledge Hub at bizknowledge.punjab.gov.pk. It is described as a platform with information about the registrations, permits and licences you may need to start a business or run it. Read it first so you arrive with the right documents.

1. Decide the business type: sole shop, partnership firm or company.
2. Open the Knowledge Hub and read the requirements for that type.
3. Gather the listed documents and your CNIC.
4. Visit your nearest BFC between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on a weekday.
5. Submit the application and keep the receipt or tracking details.
6. Track the application online from the BFC website.

The BFC site does not publish a fee table or a document list for each service. Those depend on the service. Treat the steps above as the general path and confirm the details at the centre.

Track your application online

The BFC website has a Track Your Application button that opens crm-bfc.punjab.gov.pk/track-application. Use it after submission to see where your file stands. The site does not explain the tracking screen in detail, and we did not test it.

Some registrations also have their own pages here. The steps to register a shop or establishment in Punjab and to register a partnership firm match two of the BFC headings. A business that sells taxable services in Punjab can also read about Punjab sales tax on services registration. For brand protection, see the notes on trademark registration.

Common questions about Punjab Business Facilitation Centres

Do BFCs open on Saturday?

No. The BFC website lists 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, for every centre. It does not list Saturday or Sunday hours.

Is the BFC only for big companies?

No. The site lists a partnership firm and shop and establishment among its services. It says it helps the business community and domestic and foreign investors.

Can I register a trademark at a BFC?

The site lists trademark, copyright, patent and design under Intellectual Property Organization services. It does not give fees, so check with the centre or the IP office.

How do I track my BFC application?

Use the Track Your Application button on the BFC website. It opens the tracking page at crm-bfc.punjab.gov.pk.

Is there a BFC in my city?

Only if you live in or near Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi or Faisalabad. No other city is listed on the site.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 14 October 2026. Every address, phone number, hour and service heading comes from the home page of bfc.punjab.gov.pk, which we read on that date. We did not visit a centre, call a number or test the tracking page. Fees and document lists are not published there.