PM speeds up ease of doing business reforms, seeks third-party validation 

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to accelerate the implementation of the government’s ease of doing business initiatives and the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2025.

Chairing a review meeting, the prime minister also ordered the preparation of a comprehensive implementation report and called for third-party validation by international organisations to assess the effectiveness of the reforms.

The meeting was informed that work had been completed on 558 reforms aimed at reducing regulatory requirements, paperwork and business approval procedures.

Of these, 71 policy measures have been implemented, while another 272 are under execution. The reforms are being introduced across different sectors in seven phases and are expected to save businesses an estimated Rs468.7 billion in regulatory compliance costs.

Officials said the removal of unnecessary regulations and complex documentation would support exports, attract greater foreign direct investment and create employment opportunities.

The prime minister said fully utilising Pakistan’s potential for domestic and foreign investment remained a government priority.

He directed that progress on ease of doing business measures and the employment generated through them should be included as key performance indicators when evaluating officials of the relevant institutions.

Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Board of Investment, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industries and Production and other institutions involved in drafting legislation and policies to facilitate businesses.

The meeting was briefed on progress made so far and the next phase of reforms.

Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema and Syed Mustafa Kamal attended the meeting, along with Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser to the Prime Minister Muhammad Ali, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, Attorney General Mansoor Awan and senior officials.

State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, the chief secretaries of the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and international experts participated through video link.