Islamabad, March 7, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with a delegation of business leaders on Friday, where they expressed confidence in the government’s investment-friendly policies and praised the conducive economic environment.
Speaking at the meeting, the prime minister stated that Pakistan’s economy was moving in the right direction, with a decline in inflation and interest rates. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering an investor-friendly climate to drive economic growth.
PM Shehbaz emphasized that continuous consultation with stakeholders was key to accelerating economic progress. He highlighted that trade officers had been given clear targets to boost exports.
The business community commended the government’s pro-business policies, particularly appreciating the establishment of the National Seed Development Authority and initiatives such as the Green Pakistan Initiative. They also acknowledged the rapid global expansion of Pakistan’s IT sector.
Directing ministries to engage regularly with business stakeholders, the prime minister stated:
“Investment begins at home. I have decided to meet business leaders regularly to hear their concerns firsthand.”
He reiterated that local investors play a pivotal role in driving economic progress, stating:
“When local investors take the lead, foreign investment will follow. It is up to you to keep the wheels of the economy spinning.”
Highlighting Pakistan’s export achievements, PM Shehbaz noted that rice exports had reached $4 billion. However, he regretted that Pakistan had failed to capitalize on a grant from China in 2005 for a rice grading laboratory.
On governance and accountability, he asserted that administrative mistakes would not go unchecked. He announced that his office would hold sectoral review meetings twice a week, bringing together relevant ministers, secretaries, and four representatives from each sector. The first meeting would focus on the agriculture sector.
