ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed on Tuesday that enhancing investment remains the foremost priority of the government to stimulate economic growth. He stressed the need for concerned authorities to simplify regulations further and accelerate the digitisation of business services.
During a review meeting focused on investment promotion, Sharif instructed officials to provide maximum facilitation for both domestic and international investors, with particular emphasis on supporting export expansion. He highlighted that promoting investment is crucial for economic development and insisted that all necessary support should be extended to investors.
The prime minister advocated for making regulatory compliance more straightforward and cost-effective, improving coordination between the government and investors, and speeding up the digital transformation of licensing and other public services. He noted that the creation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has significantly bolstered investor confidence in Pakistan.
Officials updated the meeting on ongoing reforms and initiatives related to investment. They revealed that the contribution of special economic zones (SEZs) to exports was 3.7 percent during July–March of the current fiscal year, with an ambitious goal to increase this to 8 percent by fiscal year 2028. Additionally, the government is developing a business-ready action plan in collaboration with provincial authorities to further encourage investment.
Efforts are also underway to digitise all approvals and services for investors and businesses, including the establishment of a Pakistan Regulatory Registry aimed at streamlining permissions. Currently, 21 special economic zones are operational across the country, with plans to expand this number to 26 by June 2026.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, State Minister for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, along with other senior government officials.
