Federal Minister for the Board of Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed the Pakistan Governance Forum organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and chaired a high-level session titled “From Subsidies to Strategy: Delivering Competitiveness Through Reform.”
The Forum was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who underscored the government’s commitment to structural reforms, governance improvement, and sustainable economic growth.
During the session, the Federal Minister emphasized that Pakistan is transitioning from a subsidy-driven economic model toward a strategy-led, competitiveness-based framework centered on export-led growth and value-added production. He highlighted that moving up the value chain and enhancing value-added exports remain central pillars of the country’s economic transformation.
He stressed that structural reforms are essential to move beyond short-term stabilization toward long-term and sustainable economic growth, noting that regulatory clarity, predictability, and institutional coordination are critical to attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
The session was moderated by Ambreen Waheed from the Planning Commission of Pakistan and featured panelists including Manzoor Ahmed, Chief Executive of World Trade Advisors; Louie Dane, Senior Economic Advisor at FCDO; Rabeel Warraich, Founder and CEO of Sarmayacar; and Anna Twum, Trade Economist at the World Bank. Discussions focused on reforming Pakistan’s regulatory landscape to strengthen competitiveness and improve the business climate.
The Minister highlighted the ongoing work of the Board of Investment under the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms, stating that multiple reform packages have been introduced, with hundreds of reforms at various stages of implementation. He said the objective is to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, simplify compliance, and modernize outdated legal frameworks.
He further emphasized that small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the national economy and must be empowered through simplified regulations, improved market access, and integration into export value chains. He called for facilitation-oriented governance and encouraged the Federal Board of Revenue to prioritize business facilitation to strengthen investor confidence.
Referring to his longstanding association with the business community, the Minister shared that he previously served as President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, noting that this experience provides firsthand understanding of entrepreneurial challenges.
He also highlighted initiatives such as the Business Facilitation Center model, offering one-window services to investors, and stressed the importance of digital transformation in regulatory processes.
The Federal Minister appreciated the efforts of Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, and the Planning Ministry for organizing the Forum and advancing initiatives such as Uraan Pakistan aimed at strengthening governance and long-term development planning.
Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed the Board of Investment’s commitment to advancing regulatory reforms, promoting export-led growth, and fostering a competitive, investor-friendly environment in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for economic transformation.
