Islamabad, November 12, 2026: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) held the first meeting of a committee established to protect investors from harassment and provide comprehensive institutional support for economic growth.
The meeting, held at NAB Headquarters, discussed various measures to promote a business-friendly environment, safeguard investors and ensure sustainable economic development.
The meeting was attended by NAB Deputy Chairman Syed Ehtasham Qadir Shah, Prosecutor General Accountability Sohail Nasir, Chief of Staff Muhammad Bilal Riaz Barki, Assistant Director Zahid Usman and other NAB officials.
Representing the business community, participants included Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Zakaria Akbar Zia, who is also the committee’s focal person; Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Talat Mahmood; Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi; Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Shahid Khalil (online); and Arshad Mahmood of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.
The participants held detailed discussions on the challenges faced by the business community, particularly difficulties encountered while dealing with various government departments. They put forward proposals to eliminate unnecessary hurdles, ensure transparency and provide effective institutional support to investors engaged in legitimate business activities.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of establishing a coordinated mechanism for addressing business-related complaints and strengthening investor confidence.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad Zakaria Akbar Zia highlighted the difficulties faced by traders and industrialists in their dealings with government departments and stressed the need for their prompt resolution.
He said investors and businesspeople should be treated as partners in national economic development rather than subjected to unnecessary bureaucratic complexities, unjustified scrutiny and harassment.
He further emphasised that a transparent, predictable and supportive regulatory environment was essential to attracting domestic and foreign investment, expanding industrial activities and generating new employment opportunities.
Zia stressed the need to strengthen coordination among NAB, relevant government departments and business representative organisations to protect legitimate business activities, while ensuring that accountability mechanisms remain focused on corruption and deliberate violations of the law.
The participants agreed to develop practical measures and a coordinated strategy to strengthen institutional cooperation, facilitate legitimate businesses, address investors’ concerns and remove obstacles hindering economic activity.
