The Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has approved the tabling of the landmark Asaan Karobaar Bill—drafted and presented by the Board of Investment—before the National Assembly for final approval.
The Asaan Karobaar Bill represents a major leap in institutionalizing regulatory modernization, aimed to reform the regulatory framework governing businesses, trade, and investment by eliminating cumbersome procedures and streamlining complex compliance requirements. It is the culmination of years of sustained reform efforts that began with Pakistan’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) agenda and evolved into the comprehensive Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI).
The bill envisions the creation of an institutional framework dedicated to regulatory reform. This includes the establishment of the Asaan Karobar Technical Unit within BOI to lead reform implementation, drive simplification and automation, and support mapping and legal review of existing regulatory instruments. It also introduces a Pakistan Regulatory Registry that will mandate all government agencies to list their laws, regulations, and RLCOs—ensuring legal clarity, improved transparency, and the elimination of outdated or redundant requirements.
A key component of the bill is the establishment of the Pakistan Business Portal—an integrated, digital one-window platform that will centralize licensing, approvals, and payment systems across various departments and agencies. The bill also provides for a structured internal review mechanism, a decision-making framework through the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms (CCoRR), and formalizes funding arrangements to ensure the sustainability of the reform ecosystem. These efforts are further backed by federal support and aligned with international obligations with respect to regulatory reforms for businesses.
The passage of the Asaan Karobar Bill will mark a transformative shift in the way businesses engage with the state. It is designed to promote formalization, reduce compliance burdens, attract investment, and build a business environment that is efficient, predictable, and responsive to the needs of the private sector.
The Government of Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to deepening the reform agenda through institutional mechanisms that support transparency, technology-driven service delivery, and evidence-based policymaking.
