ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (APP): Experts have emphasised the urgent need to simplify Pakistan’s regulatory environment and introduce a unified digital compliance system to reduce the cost and time burden on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
They expressed these views at a stakeholder consultation on the “Digital Compliance Gateway” held at Freedom Gate Prosperity (FGP) in collaboration with the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries (ICSTSI).
The consultation brought together policy experts, legal practitioners, industry representatives and development professionals to deliberate on practical reforms under the broader #UnlockPakBusiness initiative.
Earlier, Muhammad Anwar, CEO of FGP, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of creating a market-friendly policy environment. He said complex procedures and fragmented regulatory requirements discourage entrepreneurship and investment. He added that FGP, in collaboration with institutional partners, is working to promote evidence-based reforms that reduce compliance barriers and support business growth.
Awais Satti, President of ICSTSI, underscored the need for stronger public-private dialogue to identify bottlenecks faced by traders and entrepreneurs. He noted that regulatory simplification and digital integration could significantly improve the ease of doing business and help expand the formal economy.
Dr Ali Salman, CEO of Prime Institute Pakistan, highlighted the broader economic implications of regulatory inefficiencies. He stressed that reducing unnecessary compliance costs would improve productivity, encourage formalisation and enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional markets.
During the discussion, Mohsin Malik, a regulatory reforms expert, observed that Pakistan currently operates within a complex and fragmented regulatory environment, with overlapping requirements and multiple authorities. He emphasised the need for coherent reforms and a streamlined digital framework to reduce duplication and uncertainty.
Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee at ICSTSI, Sher Mohammad presented a technical briefing outlining the estimated compliance burden on businesses and introduced the concept of a unified digital gateway to consolidate registration and reporting requirements.
From an industry perspective, Asad Taimur, Legal Adviser at ICSTSI, shared ground-level challenges faced by traders, particularly the difficulties caused by redundant registration processes across multiple agencies.
Senior Legal Expert, Dr Zia Ullah Ranjha highlighted legal and regulatory overlaps that contribute to procedural delays and increase operational costs.
Sardar Zaheer Ahmad of ICSTSI also shared the practical implications of a complex compliance system for overall economic growth.
Additional Advocate General of Balochistan, Amjad Khan Achakzai emphasised that creating an enabling environment for trade in underdeveloped regions should be a top priority to address the high rate of youth unemployment.
The session concluded with an open stakeholder forum moderated by Shafqat Aziz, where participants validated reform priorities and discussed advocacy and awareness strategies.
The consultation ended with a commitment to develop a practical policy roadmap to support regulatory simplification and promote a more enabling business environment in Pakistan.