Govt, business leaders discuss budget priorities, investment boost measures

April 10, 2026 (MLN):  The government of Pakistan has initiated high-level consultations with the business community to review the country’s economic situation, discuss upcoming budget priorities, and identify measures to strengthen economic recovery, investment, trade facilitation, and sustainable long-term growth amid evolving regional and global economic challenges.

In this regard, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a nearly 90-minute virtual meeting with presidents and senior office bearers of chambers of commerce and business entities from across the country.

The session was also attended by Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with senior officials from the Finance Division, Revenue Division, and Tax Policy Office, according to a press release issued.

The Finance Minister welcomed participants and appreciated their continued engagement with the government.

He highlighted Pakistan’s growing importance in the regional and global economic landscape and stressed the need for structured and regular dialogue with the business community, especially as he prepares for key engagements with international financial institutions and global counterparts.

He said the consultation was aimed at gathering first-hand input from key stakeholders to ensure more effective policy formulation.

It was further noted that the meeting focused not only on taxation and budgetary proposals but also on identifying practical and forward-looking strategies to strengthen trade, enhance investment flows, and improve economic competitiveness.

He emphasized that Pakistan entered the recent challenging phase from a position of relative macroeconomic stability supported by fiscal discipline and improved external buffers, and reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining economic resilience.

During the discussion, participants from chambers of commerce and industry shared detailed proposals aimed at improving the overall business environment, reducing operational inefficiencies, strengthening productivity, and aligning policy frameworks with regional benchmarks.

They stressed the importance of policy predictability, consultative budget-making processes, and targeted facilitation for export-oriented industries and emerging sectors.

Business leaders also highlighted the need to improve liquidity flows, expand export markets, and strengthen infrastructure and logistics to enhance Pakistan’s global trade footprint.

They called for coordinated efforts to promote investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology-driven sectors, while ensuring better utilization of existing industrial capacity.

Senior officials from the Tax Policy Office and the Federal Board of Revenue briefed participants on ongoing reforms and assured that proposals received from chambers were being carefully reviewed to develop balanced and effective policy measures.

They reiterated that continuous stakeholder engagement would remain central to the budget-making process and broader economic reforms.

Concluding the meeting, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb thanked participants for their constructive input and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to work closely with the business community to steer the economy towards stability, resilience, and sustainable growth.

 He emphasized that the current phase presents a critical opportunity to advance reforms and capitalize on emerging economic opportunities through sustained public-private collaboration.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI; Mr. Zaki Ijaz, Vice President FPCCI; Mr. Javed Bilwani, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Rehan Hanif, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Faheem Saigol, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Usman Shoukat, President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Sohail Altaf, Group Leader Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Ahtisham Mazhar, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Farooq Yousaf Sheikh, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Mohammad Ayoub, President Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Junaid Altaf, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Ali Humayun Butt, Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Ahmad Hassan, Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Mr. Sardar Tahir, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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