PM Shehbaz vows inclusive economic growth through private sector dialogue

ISLAMABAD, Jul 08 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with top industrialists and business leaders from key sectors of the economy, reaffirming his government’s commitment to economic stability, export-led growth, and private sector facilitation.

During the interactive session, business leaders lauded the prime minister’s leadership and his economic team’s persistent efforts in stabilizing the country’s financial outlook, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.

They particularly commended the government for successfully concluding a critical IMF agreement and introducing a pro-business budget aimed at ease of doing business.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of collaborative policy-making. “The credit for economic stabilization goes to the tireless efforts of our team,” he said, adding, “Our next objective is to steer Pakistan toward sustained growth, enhance exports, create jobs, and attract foreign investment.”

He emphasized that future development would be driven by domestic resource mobilization, reducing dependency, and making Pakistan economically self-reliant. “The suggestions of the business community are vital for shaping policies that serve the national interest,” he noted.

The Prime Minister announced that he would hold monthly meetings with the business community to ensure regular consultation and collective ownership of economic reforms. “We will consult private sector experts across every domain. This long journey of progress demands mutual effort and determination,” he stated.

The industrialists acknowledged the government’s budget as business-friendly and aligned with industry needs. They appreciated ongoing reforms in taxation and customs clearance systems, particularly improvements in FBR’s digitalization and transparency at ports.

They also stressed the need for enhanced facilitation for exporters and investors, as well as policy alignment with the needs of businesses and industries to boost foreign direct investment.

During the meeting, the officials briefed participants on several government initiatives underway including digitization of FBR to simplify taxation and ease investment processes, strategic privatization drive to reduce government footprint, introduction of a modern IT ecosystem for the first time in Pakistan’s history, use of AI in agriculture and other key sectors and expansion of ports and activation of Gwadar through private sector consultation and, rapid deployment of modern technologies, quality seed, and smart machinery in agriculture.

The meeting was attended by prominent figures from the textile, agriculture, cement, and IT sectors. Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Sardar Awais Leghari, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Hanif Abbasi, Jind Anwar Chaudhry, PM’s Coordinator on Agriculture Ahmad Umair, FBR Chairman, and other senior officials also participated.