Can PM Shehbaz Deliver Relief Without Derailing Growth?
News Desk
Islamabad: With the federal budget for fiscal year 2026-27 just days away, Pakistan’s top business leaders have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to accelerate economic growth, expand exports, and continue reforms aimed at improving the investment climate.
The calls came during a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and leading industrialists and business executives at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday, where discussions focused on budget priorities and strategies to sustain the country’s economic recovery.
Addressing the gathering, the prime minister said the upcoming budget would include measures aimed at providing relief to the public while maintaining the government’s focus on export-led growth.
“We are pursuing an export-driven economic strategy, which remains the central pillar of our economic policy,” the prime minister said, adding that efforts were also underway to bring more of the informal economy into the tax net.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/is-gilgit-baltistan-election-playing-field-truly-fair/
The meeting brought together some of Pakistan’s most influential business figures, including representatives from manufacturing, banking, technology, telecommunications, and export-oriented industries.
Government officials briefed participants on a range of ongoing reforms, including improvements in tax dispute resolution, plans for Special Commercial Courts, upgrades to key transport infrastructure, and the development of a National AI Transformation Plan.
Business leaders welcomed recent government measures, including reductions in industrial electricity tariffs, the abolition of the Export Development Levy, and efforts to ensure timely tax refunds.
Participants also praised initiatives aimed at promoting digital payments and expanding the documented economy, while emphasizing the need for policies that encourage investment, exports, and job creation.
Speaking after the meeting, representatives of the business community highlighted the importance of maintaining economic momentum. Pakistan Business Council Chairperson Zeelaf Munir stressed that increasing economic growth and export volumes should remain top national priorities.
The consultation comes as the government prepares to unveil a budget that is expected to balance fiscal discipline with demands for tax relief, industrial growth, and public support amid ongoing economic challenges.
Business leaders reaffirmed their willingness to work closely with the government, expressing confidence that continued reforms and public-private cooperation could help strengthen Pakistan’s economic outlook in the coming year.
