BY: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD– President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has said that Pakistan’s private sector must be placed at the centre of economic policymaking and export strategy, as sustainable economic growth, job creation and foreign exchange earnings cannot be achieved without fully harnessing the potential of businesses and entrepreneurs.
He expressed these views while speaking to different delegations of business leaders that visited the Chamber House here on Friday.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood emphasized that the private sector is the real engine of economic growth and must be given a leading role in shaping economic policies. He called for a meaningful and institutionalized public-private partnership to identify sector-specific challenges, remove business bottlenecks and formulate practical policies that can enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets.
The ICCI President urged the government to undertake immediate reforms to improve the ease of doing business, reduce the cost of production, ensure reliable energy at competitive rates and simplify taxation and regulatory frameworks. He stressed that exporters need a predictable and business-friendly environment to make long-term investments and expand their international footprint.
He also called for targeted incentives to promote value-added exports, encourage industrial expansion and facilitate entry into new and emerging global markets. Pakistan, he said, must move beyond traditional exports and focus on higher-value products, technology, IT-enabled services and knowledge-based industries.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood further emphasized that policy consistency and predictability are essential for restoring investor confidence. Frequent changes in taxation and regulatory policies, he noted, discourage investment and undermine the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses.
He reaffirmed ICCI’s commitment to working closely with the government and all relevant stakeholders to advance business-friendly reforms and strengthen the country’s export capacity.
