Sharif orders Pakistan’s business rules into a common registry
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a comprehensive registry of business requirements and rules, alongside nationwide implementation of the law intended to ease business activity. He also called for independent evaluation of reforms and coordination with provincial governments. Officials reported approval of 557 reforms and estimated annual savings of 460 billion rupees.
Economics & Markets··Night
Sharif orders the rules consolidated
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to build a comprehensive registry containing existing business requirements, rules and regulations. He issued the instruction at a Friday meeting reviewing economic and regulatory reforms.[1], [2]
Sharif also called for nationwide implementation of the law intended to ease business activity so that firms receive comparable facilities across provinces. He ordered independent third-party assessment of the reforms’ impact and effectiveness.[1]
Provincial visits support regulatory coordination
The Special Investment Facilitation Council, Pakistan’s investment coordination body, was told to communicate existing facilities to businesses and work with the private sector. Sharif asked for a delegation led by industrial adviser Haroon Akhtar Khan to visit provincial governments and coordinate the reform process. He set a March deadline for joining Punjab’s eBiz system with the Islamabad Business Facilitation Center.[1]
Officials report approvals and completed applications
Officials said the cabinet’s regulatory-reform committee had approved 557 reforms in seven cross-sectoral areas. They estimated potential annual savings of 460 billion rupees.[1]
The meeting was told that 8,717 applications had been initiated through the facilitation centre, with 71 per cent completed. Officials also reported support for 4,612 new businesses.[1]
