LAHORE: The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has backed the government’s commitment to provide policy consistency and a stable business environment to domestic and foreign investors, saying continuity and predictability in economic policies are essential for sustainable growth, investment and industrial expansion. APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood and Chairman Ibrahim Qureshi said the government’s assurance of policy stability was encouraging for the business community, as frequent policy changes and uncertainty had remained major obstacles to long-term investment and expansion of businesses. They said Pakistan needed to move beyond short-term economic management and develop a clear, consistent and predictable policy framework covering taxation, energy, trade, investment and industrial development. Maaz Mahmood said foreign investors could be attracted to Pakistan only when they were confident that policies would remain stable and that commitments made by the government would be honoured over the long term. He stressed that equal attention should also be given to facilitating local businesses, as a strong domestic private sector was essential for attracting sustainable foreign investment. He said the government should ensure that policy decisions were taken after meaningful consultation with the business community and avoid frequent changes in taxation, regulatory requirements and other measures affecting investment decisions. Ibrahim Qureshi said Pakistan had significant potential to attract Dutch and other foreign investment, particularly in agriculture, food processing, technology, manufacturing, logistics and other productive sectors. Staff Reporter
However, investors needed a predictable regulatory environment, efficient institutions, reliable infrastructure and ease of doing business.
He said the government should focus on reducing the cost of doing business, simplifying regulatory procedures and improving contract enforcement so that Pakistan could compete effectively with regional economies for foreign investment.
The APBF leaders said policy consistency should not remain limited to statements but must be reflected in actual government decisions and implementation. They urged the authorities to formulate long-term economic policies with clear objectives and ensure continuity regardless of short-term changes in economic conditions.
They also called for strengthening public-private dialogue, saying regular consultation with trade bodies and business associations could help the government identify policy bottlenecks and formulate more practical and investment-friendly measures.
The APBF leaders said improved economic stability and growing investor confidence provided Pakistan with an opportunity to establish itself as an attractive destination for long-term investment. They urged the government to use this opportunity to introduce structural reforms, promote exports, support industrialisation and create a business environment capable of generating sustainable employment and economic growth.
