SIFC, World Bank discuss business facilitation reforms

The Special Investment Facilitation Council, or SIFC, met a World Bank delegation to discuss reforms intended to ease business-government dealings, Business Recorder reported. The talks focused on three initiatives: the Asaan Karobar Framework, the Regulatory Registry and the Pakistan Business Portal. According to a statement from SIFC, these efforts are meant to streamline rules, strengthen coordination between agencies, lighten the compliance load and make it simpler for firms to deal with the state.

SIFC described its whole-of-government method as bringing federal, provincial and sectoral stakeholders together to coordinate reform implementation. Engagement with the provinces was highlighted as a core part of that method, so that facilitation work runs through wider institutional cooperation. The World Bank team welcomed this inclusive approach and reiterated its readiness to keep backing efforts to improve the regulatory environment.

The Regulatory Registry is designed to make applicable requirements clearer and easier to access, while the Pakistan Business Portal offers a more coordinated and accessible interface with government institutions. Both tools, along with the framework, are intended to support entrepreneurship, investment and growth led by the private sector.