PM orders faster implementation of easier-to-do-business reforms

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to accelerate the implementation of measures to improve the ease of doing business, saying the government’s policy reforms and implementation of the Easy Business Act 2025 should be accelerated to unlock Pakistan’s investment potential, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said it was essential to obtain third-party validation from international institutions to independently assess the effectiveness and implementation of the government’s reforms aimed at making it easier to do business.

He said harnessing the country’s potential for domestic and foreign investment remained one of the government’s top priorities, and asked officials to prepare and submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of business facilitation measures as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also commended the Ministry of Justice, Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Board of Investment, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and all other relevant institutions for their work on legislation and policy development aimed at improving the business environment.

The officials briefed the meeting on the progress made so far and the future action plan. They said work had been completed on 558 reforms intended to reduce regulations, red tape and approval requirements for businesses across the country. Of these, 71 policy measures had already been implemented, while work on another 272 measures was progressing rapidly. The reforms are being implemented in seven phases in different sectors.

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The meeting was informed that the measures are expected to save the business community around Rs 468.7 billion by reducing regulatory requirements and compliance costs.

Officials said eliminating unnecessary and complex red tape and regulations would help increase exports, attract more foreign direct investment and create new job opportunities.

The Prime Minister directed that the implementation of reforms making it easier to do business, as well as the resulting employment opportunities, should be given significant weight in evaluating the performance of officers of the institutions concerned.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers, senior government officials, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the chief secretaries of the four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Kashmir, while international experts participated through video link.