Investment Minister reaffirms commitment for regulatory reforms, export-led growth
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory reforms in the institution and export-led growth, while addressing in Pakistan Governance Forum.
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed the Pakistan Governance Forum organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and chaired a high-level session titled “From Subsidies to Strategy: Delivering Competitiveness Through Reform.”
The Forum was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who underscored the Government’s commitment to structural reforms, governance improvement, and sustainable economic growth.
During the session, the Minister emphasized that Pakistan is transitioning from a subsidy-driven economic model toward a strategy-led, competitiveness-based framework centered on export-led growth and value-added production.
He highlighted that moving up the value chain and enhancing value-added exports remain central pillars of Pakistan’s economic transformation. The Minister underscored that structural reforms are essential to move beyond short-term stabilization toward long-term and sustainable economic growth. He noted that regulatory clarity, predictability, and institutional coordination are critical to attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
The session was moderated by Ambreen Waheed from the Planning Commission of Pakistan and featured distinguished panelists including Manzoor Ahmed, Chief Executive of World Trade Advisors; Louie Dane, Senior Economic Advisor at FCDO; Rabeel Warraich, Founder and CEO of Sarmayacar; and Anna Twum, Trade Economist at the World Bank. The discussion focused on reforming Pakistan’s regulatory landscape to strengthen competitiveness and improve the overall business climate.
The Minister highlighted the ongoing work of the Board of Investment under the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms (CCORR), stating that multiple comprehensive reform packages have been rolled out, with hundreds of reforms at various stages of implementation. He emphasized that the objective is to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, simplify compliance, and modernize outdated legal frameworks.
He further stressed that SMEs are the backbone of the national economy and must be empowered through simplified regulations, easier market access, and integration into export value chains. He called for facilitation-oriented governance, particularly encouraging the Federal Board of Revenue to prioritize business facilitation in order to strengthen investor confidence.
Referring to his longstanding association with the business community, the Minister shared that he had served as President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry nearly four decades ago, which gives him firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Business Facilitation Center (BFC) model, which provides coordinated, one-window services to investors, and emphasized the importance of digital transformation in regulatory processes. Staff Report
