Govt targets lower energy costs, easier business regulations

September 09, 2026 (MLN): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding business activity, lowering the cost of doing business and creating a more investor-friendly regulatory environment.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of leading industrialists and business figures in Islamabad.

Shehbaz Sharif identified lower energy costs as a major government priority and said measures were being pursued to provide relief to businesses. He also directed authorities to take immediate action on issues raised by the business community, according to Radio Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said the recently formed Trade Facilitation Board would be strengthened into an effective platform for supporting trade, while proposals from the private sector would be considered to enhance its performance.

He highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in providing investors and businesses with a one-window mechanism for facilitating investment and commercial activities.

According to the Prime Minister, the government is also working on a regulatory guillotine aimed at eliminating unnecessary regulations, simplifying procedures and reducing compliance costs for businesses.

He said substantial progress had been achieved in the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), with enforcement measures generating Rs800 billion during the last financial year.

Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s macroeconomic conditions had improved significantly following the government’s economic policies, but stressed that greater attention was required at the microeconomic level to ensure the benefits of economic recovery reached the broader population.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of developing a skilled workforce, directing efforts toward training young people in line with industry requirements and emerging market needs.

He further instructed the relevant authorities to examine the possibility of extending the super tax exemption available to exporters.

The business delegation was briefed on ongoing efforts to modernize ports, improve transport infrastructure and strengthen trade connectivity. Officials said port charges had been reduced while operational capacity at the country’s ports had also improved.

The meeting was informed that work was progressing on the upgradation of Motorway M-10 and the Pipri Freight Corridor to enhance connectivity between Karachi’s ports and other parts of the country.

Officials also briefed the delegation on the proposed Motorway M-13 linking Kharian with Rawalpindi, which is expected to shorten travel time between Lahore and Islamabad. Upgradation of Pakistan Railways was also highlighted as a measure to improve the movement of commercial cargo.

The delegation was informed that Pakistan’s IT exports had reached record levels, while the government was undertaking training programmes for one million people in information technology and artificial intelligence.

Measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly by improving their access to financing, were also discussed.

The business leaders welcomed the improvement in macroeconomic stability and expressed confidence in the government’s economic reform agenda.

They particularly appreciated initiatives involving the Export Development Fund, timely settlement of tax refunds and FBR digitization.

They also welcomed Pakistan’s successful $3bn bond issuance, describing it as a reflection of improved economic stability and rising investor confidence.

The business community assured the government of continued cooperation in supporting export-led economic growth and appreciated its privatization and deregulation initiatives.

The delegation also submitted proposals concerning challenges faced by different sectors.

The business leaders further commended Pakistan’s constructive role in regional peace efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

The delegation comprised Mian Muhammad Mansha, Arif Habib, Saqib Shirazi, Atif Bajwa, Muhammad Ali Tabba, Musadik Zulqarnain, Umar Saeed, Samad Dawood, Ashraf Mookat, Shahid Soorti, Shehzad Asghar, Ziad Bashir, Shehzad Saleem, Asif Peer, Aamir Ibrahim, Javed Bilwani, Siddiq Bhatti, Fawad Anwar, Khurram Mukhtar and Yousaf Hussain.

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