The Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review progress on the Ease of Doing Business reforms, the Easy Business Act 2025, ongoing reform initiatives, and the performance of relevant institutions.
Addressing the meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the government is taking steps to bring Pakistan’s investment environment in line with international standards. He emphasized that removing unnecessary hurdles, complex regulations, and lengthy paperwork faced by the business community would help strengthen the country’s economy.
The Prime Minister directed ministries and government departments to accelerate the implementation of reforms under the Easy Business Act 2025. He also instructed authorities to seek third-party validation from international organizations to assess the effectiveness of the reforms and improve Pakistan’s global business reputation.
During the briefing, officials informed the Prime Minister that a total of 558 reform measures have been identified across different sectors to improve ease of doing business in Pakistan.
Officials said that 71 major policy reforms have already been fully implemented, while work on 272 additional reforms is progressing rapidly. The remaining initiatives are at different stages of completion and are expected to be finalized within the given timelines.
According to officials, these reforms will help reduce unnecessary regulations, simplify licensing procedures, and minimize excessive documentation requirements. As a result, the business community is expected to save more than Rs468.7 billion.
The meeting was also informed that successful completion of these reforms could boost foreign direct investment (FDI), exports, and industrial activity in Pakistan. Authorities expect that increased economic activity will also create new employment opportunities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the annual performance evaluation of government officials should not be based only on traditional indicators but should also include practical progress in implementing business reforms, attracting investment, and creating employment opportunities.
He said the government’s goal is to transform Pakistan into an attractive and secure economic hub where both local and international investors can conduct business without unnecessary obstacles.
The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, including Azam Nazeer Tarar, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Prime Minister’s Adviser Muhammad Ali, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, and other senior officials.
Chief secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with international experts, also participated through video link and shared recommendations regarding the ongoing reform process.
