Islamabad, October 3,2026: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has strongly praised the reforms introduced in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), describing them as a model for other regulatory institutions and directing that similar reforms be introduced across the regulatory framework.
The remarks came during an important meeting on regulatory reforms chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr. Obaidullah participated.
The prime minister said reforms had modernized DRAP and directed that other regulatory bodies should undergo reforms along similar lines.
He also instructed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) delegation to visit all provinces and take provincial governments on board in the regulatory reform process to promote ease of doing business and bring greater harmony to the regulatory system across the country.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries Haroon Akhtar Khan was directed to lead the delegation during the provincial visits and ensure effective coordination with provincial governments on regulatory reforms.
The prime minister directed all ministries and divisions to ensure timely implementation of reforms approved by the federal cabinet.
SIFC and the Chief Secretary Punjab were directed to complete the integration of Punjab’s E-Biz and the Islamabad Business Facilitation Centre by March 2027.
The prime minister stressed that businesses should receive tangible benefits from the reforms and called for active cooperation with the private sector. He also directed the relevant institutions to ensure effective awareness about the facilities being provided so that businesses could make full use of them.
The meeting was briefed that the Business Facilitation Centre is being modernized on the model of the Punjab government’s E-Biz platform, while the Export Policy Order and Import Policy Order are also being simplified.
SIFC is coordinating with all provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, on regulatory reforms.
The Cabinet’s Regulatory Reforms Committee has approved 557 reforms across seven multi-sector areas, with annual savings of Rs460 billion expected from the measures.
The meeting was further informed that implementation had begun on 8,717 applications submitted to the Business Facilitation Centre, with 71 percent completed. The Islamabad Business Facilitation Centre has also facilitated 4,612 new businesses.
Besides regulatory reforms, SIFC is also working on policy governance and institutional reforms
