Pakistan’s industrial sector needs action, not assurances: Zubair Motiwala

October 23, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan’s industries are closing and entrepreneurs are reluctant to make new investments amid persistent economic challenges and a lack of concrete action to address business community concerns, Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala said.

Speaking during a visit by Joint Secretary (Military) of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and Head of its Provincial Office in Sindh, Colonel Abdullah Khan Sherani, to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Zubair Motiwala urged SIFC to translate its mandate into tangible results by addressing structural challenges affecting industrial competitiveness, the investment climate and export growth.

He said repeated meetings, presentations and assurances had failed to produce meaningful outcomes, stressing the urgent need for practical measures to reduce the cost of doing business, revive industrial activity and restore investor confidence.

Zubair Motiwala expressed concern over the widening gap between policy discussions and implementation, noting that business leaders had repeatedly highlighted critical economic issues during meetings with senior government officials, including the Prime Minister, but meaningful corrective action remained elusive.

He emphasised that the challenges facing Karachi’s industry were not limited to one chamber or city but reflected deeper structural weaknesses affecting Pakistan’s entire economy.

“Pakistan’s economy is under severe pressure, industries are closing and entrepreneurs are reluctant to make new investments. Everybody acknowledges the problems when we raise them, but the real question is why no concrete steps are taken to resolve them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sherani assured KCCI of closer institutional coordination, direct engagement and facilitation to address business community concerns, promote investment and strengthen public-private sector collaboration.

He said establishing a direct working relationship with the Chamber’s newly elected leadership was a key objective of his visit. Recently posted to Sindh as SIFC’s permanent provincial representative, he was meeting key stakeholders to familiarise himself with the province’s business and investment landscape.

Sherani said that, on the directions of SIFC Director General Asad ur Rehman Cheema, his first priority in Karachi was to visit KCCI, followed by engagement with other chambers of commerce and trade bodies across Sindh.

Acknowledging longstanding business community concerns, he said many issues had already been highlighted at the highest levels but remained unresolved. He stressed the need to prioritise pressing matters and pursue them systematically with the relevant departments and authorities.

He assured the Chamber that SIFC would facilitate matters within its mandate, keep its senior leadership informed and help take up issues requiring intervention by the Sindh government.

He added that some concerns fell within the mandate of the Regulatory Reforms Wing, while others required intervention at different administrative levels. SIFC would coordinate with the relevant wings and arrange further engagement with KCCI to refer the issues to the appropriate forums.

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