Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Industries & Production Division, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) where he held an interactive session with the KCCI leadership and members of the business community. During the meeting, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan was briefed on a wide range of pressing challenges currently faced by the business community across Pakistan. These included the lack of ease of doing business, the rising cost of operations, and concerns over the prevailing law and order situation, particularly the increase in street crimes. The members also pointed to the country's growing youth bulge and its connection to high unemployment rates. Unstable taxation policies, economic uncertainty, increasing national debt, and negative growth in the manufacturing sector were also highlighted. While addressing the concerns raised, Mr. Haroon conveyed the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, stating that the Prime Minister is determined to leave behind a strong legacy by transforming Pakistan into a prosperous, industrially revived nation. He emphasized the Prime Minister’s ambition to position Pakistan as an Asian Tiger through strategic economic reforms and focused industrial development. Mr. Haroon also paid tribute to the millions of overseas Pakistanis who continue to support the national economy despite facing harsh weather, difficult working environments, and challenging living conditions. He noted that their contributions through remittances are a vital component of Pakistan’s financial stability and deserved national recognition. In his remarks, the SAPM lauded the Pakistan Army for its significant role in the fight against terrorism, highlighting that while international NATO forces spent substantial financial resources on similar efforts, Pakistan’s armed forces achieved success with far fewer resources. He stated that the sacrifices made by the Pakistan Army have made the country more secure, a factor that has greatly benefited the economy and business sector. He further assured the business community that the government is fully committed to resolving their challenges. He said the government is actively working on reducing inflation to stabilise purchasing power, bringing down the policy rate by ten percent to stimulate business growth, rationalising power tariffs to make them more sustainable, and aligning corporate tax rates with regional competitors to make Pakistan more investment-friendly. He added that measures are being taken to improve the ease and cost of doing business, enhance law and order, reduce uncertainty in the economic environment, and increase exports to boost overall investor confidence. KCCI expressed optimism in the government’s efforts and looked forward to continued engagement on matters vital to the business community and national economy. As a token of appreciation, the SAPM was presented with a memento by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the end of the session.
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