Islamabad, June 3,2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27 would include measures aimed at providing relief to the public while accelerating economic growth through an export-led strategy.
Speaking to leading industrialists and business leaders at the Prime Minister’s House, the premier said the government’s economic policy was centered on boosting exports, expanding domestic production, and creating employment opportunities.
“The government is pursuing an export-led growth strategy, which is the central pillar of our economic policy,” he said, adding that efforts were also underway to bring the informal economy into the tax net.
Government-private sector partnership key to growth
Welcoming the business community, the prime minister described entrepreneurs and industrialists as Pakistan’s ambassadors around the world.
“We are grateful to the business community for supporting the government during difficult economic conditions,” he said. “A strong partnership between the government and the private sector is the guarantee of economic growth.”
He emphasized that consultation with the business community remained essential for effective economic policymaking.
The meeting was held as part of the government’s consultations with stakeholders ahead of the presentation of the federal budget for FY2026-27.
The delegation included prominent business figures such as Mian Muhammad Mansha, Arif Habib, Atif Bajwa, Muhammad Ali Tabba, Zeelaaf Munir, Gohar Ejaz and other leading representatives of Pakistan’s corporate sector.
Focus on industry, agriculture and technology
Prime Minister Shehbaz said business-friendly policies had helped stabilize the economy and restore investor confidence.
He noted that the government was promoting industries capable of increasing local production, expanding exports, and generating jobs.
“Development in industry, agriculture, and information technology will further strengthen the economy and create new employment opportunities,” he said.
The premier also highlighted ongoing technical and vocational training programmes aimed at equipping young people with skills needed for the modern job market.
Reforms and infrastructure projects
During the meeting, participants were briefed on key government initiatives to promote business, trade, and investment.
Officials informed the delegation that reforms had been introduced in tax tribunals to ensure the speedy resolution of tax disputes, with appointments made through a transparent process.
The government is also working on establishing Special Commercial Courts to facilitate faster resolution of business-related cases.
The delegation was further informed that work was underway on the upgradation of the M-10 Motorway and the Pipri Freight Corridor to improve connectivity between Karachi’s ports and inland regions.
Construction of the M-13 Motorway linking Kharian and Rawalpindi is also expected to reduce travel time between Lahore and Islamabad.
In addition, upgrades to Pakistan Railways’ ML-1 and ML-2 lines are planned to strengthen freight transportation and logistics infrastructure.
The briefing highlighted the development of a National AI Transformation Plan aimed at accelerating technological advancement and digital innovation.
Officials also noted that the installation of video analytics systems in the sugar and cement sectors had improved revenue collection through enhanced production monitoring.
Members of the business delegation praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for promoting regional peace and expressed confidence in the government’s economic recovery measures and fiscal management.
They welcomed reforms aimed at promoting digital payments, expanding the documented economy, and improving the ease of doing business.
Business leaders also appreciated the reduction in electricity tariffs for industry, the abolition of the Export Development Levy, and the timely payment of tax refunds.
They thanked the government for consulting the private sector during the budget preparation process and presented recommendations for strengthening the national economy.
The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government efforts aimed at economic recovery, industrial development, export growth, and job creation.
Speaking after the meeting, the chief executive officer of Lucky Cement said the prime minister had emphasized increasing exports and providing tax relief to the business community.
Meanwhile, Zeelaaf Munir stressed the need to accelerate economic growth, saying that expanding Pakistan’s export volume remained an urgent national priority.
