Islamabad, May 21, 2026: President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sardar Tahir Mehmood, on Thursday expressed hope that the upcoming federal budget would be business-friendly, export-oriented, and investment-focused to support sustainable economic growth and provide relief to both businesses and the salaried class.
Speaking to a group of visiting businessmen at the Chamber House, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said Pakistan’s economy was passing through a critical phase and stressed that the budget should prioritize restoring business confidence, promoting industrialization, enhancing exports, and creating a conducive environment for local and foreign investors.
He emphasized that the private sector should be facilitated through pragmatic and growth-oriented policies to enable it to play an effective role in economic recovery and national development.
The ICCI president called for the rationalization and simplification of the taxation system to reduce pressure on the business community and encourage documented economic activity. He observed that excessive taxation and complicated procedures discouraged investment and hampered the growth of businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the business community should be allowed to operate freely and independently so that Pakistan could emerge as a vibrant regional business and trade hub.
He also appreciated Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for directing relevant authorities to formulate a practical strategy for promoting investment in the construction and housing sector.
Highlighting the country’s housing shortage, he noted that Pakistan currently faced a deficiency of around 20 million housing units and urged the government to introduce a comprehensive one-window approval mechanism to facilitate investors, builders, and developers in the housing and construction sectors.
The ICCI chief further called for the immediate abolition of the super tax, arguing that it had imposed an additional financial burden on businesses and industries already struggling with rising operational costs and economic uncertainty.
He maintained that reducing the tax burden would help businesses expand operations, generate employment opportunities, and contribute more effectively to the national economy.
Addressing the issue of rising electricity prices, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the matter of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) should be resolved permanently to eliminate the heavy burden of capacity charges and ensure affordable electricity for industries and consumers.
He observed that high energy costs had adversely affected the competitiveness of Pakistani products in international markets and had become a major obstacle to industrial growth.
The ICCI president also stressed the importance of the real estate sector, noting that it supports nearly 60 to 70 allied industries, including steel, cement, tiles, paint, electrical goods, and construction materials.
He said incentives for the real estate and construction sectors would have a multiplier effect on the economy by generating business activity, boosting revenue collection, and creating large-scale employment opportunities.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood reiterated that the business community expected the government to present a balanced, realistic, and progressive budget that promotes investment, supports exporters, lowers the cost of doing business, and ensures long-term economic stability in the country.
