Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for greater private sector investment and faster adoption of digital technologies, saying businesses must take a stronger role in driving Pakistan’s economic growth and competitiveness.
He made the remarks during a meeting with newly elected Pakistan Business Council (PBC) Chairman Ziad Bashir and CEO Javed Kureishi, where investment, business competitiveness, taxation, and regulatory reforms were discussed.
Aurangzeb urged companies to modernize their operations, improve productivity, and adopt technology-driven business models to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
He also stressed the need for policies that encourage private investment and create a more business-friendly environment.
The finance minister asked the PBC to provide concise, sector-specific research and actionable recommendations that can help the government identify investment opportunities and address barriers faced by businesses.
The meeting also focused on attracting foreign financing through institutions such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM).
Aurangzeb said Pakistan needs to develop specific, commercially viable and investment-ready projects to attract international investors and financing institutions.
Tax policy was another key area of discussion. The finance minister highlighted the development of a medium-term tax policy framework and welcomed structured input from the business community to help build a system that promotes investment, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth.
The government is also working to simplify business and investment regulations. Aurangzeb said regulatory reforms should focus on practical measures that reduce hurdles for businesses and strengthen the competitiveness of Pakistani companies.
PBC Chairman Ziad Bashir and CEO Javed Kureishi welcomed the government’s engagement with the business community and described the current federal budget as one of the more promising budgets in recent years.
They also assured the government that the PBC would continue providing sector-specific recommendations and support efforts to improve Pakistan’s investment environment and encourage private sector-led growth.
