Prime Minister directs faster implementation of reforms to make it easier to do business

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered authorities to expedite the implementation of measures aimed at improving ease of doing business, saying the government’s policy reforms and implementation of the Easy Business Act 2025 must 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 obtaining third-party validation from international institutions was essential to independently assess the effectiveness and implementation of the government’s reforms on ease of doing business.

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

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

The officials briefed the meeting on the progress made so far and future course of action. They said work had been completed on 558 reforms designed to reduce regulations, paperwork 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 were expected to save the business community approximately Rs 468.7 billion by reducing regulatory requirements and compliance costs.

Officials said removing unnecessary and complex regulations and paperwork would help increase exports, attract greater foreign direct investment and create new employment opportunities.

The Prime Minister directed that significant weightage should be given to the implementation of reforms to facilitate doing business, along with employment opportunities generated as a result, in the performance evaluations of officials of relevant institutions.

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