Meeting with business leaders: PM directs immediate steps for solving problems

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to act at once on problems facing the business community, Business Recorder reported, aiming for lasting fixes. He also asked tax officials to re-examine a proposal extending the super tax exemption to exporters whose export proceeds fall below 80 percent. The directives came in a meeting with industrialists who had put forward suggestions on tax, energy expenses, regulation, commerce and industrial output.

Sharif said the government wants to work with businesses to boost exports, and noted that several private sector recommendations from the budget process had been included in the budget. He also said energy costs remain a priority, and that the Trade Facilitation Board is to become a stronger body for boosting trade.

Officials briefed the delegation that port charges had been reduced, and that upgrades to Motorway M-10, the Pipri Freight Corridor and Pakistan Railways were progressing. They credited government measures with a record rise in IT exports, and said one million people are being trained in IT and artificial intelligence. Business leaders welcomed the successful USD 3 billion bond issue, which they said reflected growing confidence.