Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif admitted on Wednesday that Pakistan’s existing tax structure hinders business growth and discourages investment. Speaking at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi, the premier emphasized the need to comply with IMF-backed conditions to achieve long-term economic independence.

The prime minister called on experts to provide insights for ensuring economic sustainability, highlighting that the path to growth requires careful management and prudent decision-making. Acknowledging Pakistan’s decades-long reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Shehbaz stressed that the ultimate goal is to end this dependency.

Privatization of PIA to Be Transparent
Addressing the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the prime minister assured that the process would be conducted transparently, signaling the government’s commitment to reforming state-owned enterprises.

Shehbaz commended the PSX for being recognized as the world’s second-best-performing market, attributing its success to renewed investor confidence. However, he noted that the market still lags behind its peak performance achieved in 2017, underscoring the need for further progress.