The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the World Bank have discussed ongoing efforts to improve Pakistan’s business environment, simplify regulatory processes and facilitate greater private-sector activity. The World Bank has assured continued support for initiatives aimed at strengthening business facilitation and regulatory improvements, as both sides reviewed measures intended to make it easier for businesses and investors to interact with government institutions and comply with applicable requirements.
The discussions were held on Thursday between SIFC Secretary Jameel Ahmad Qureshi and a delegation from the World Bank Group, according to a report by the Associated Press of Pakistan. The meeting focused on three key initiatives being pursued to improve the regulatory environment: the Asaan Karobar Framework, the Regulatory Registry and the Pakistan Business Portal. These initiatives are designed to address procedural complexity, improve coordination between government institutions and provide businesses with clearer channels for dealing with regulatory requirements.
The Asaan Karobar Framework is intended to provide a structured approach for simplifying business-related regulations and improving the overall ease of doing business. The framework forms part of wider efforts to review processes that businesses encounter when establishing, operating or expanding their activities. By seeking greater clarity and simplification in regulatory procedures, the initiative is aimed at reducing unnecessary administrative hurdles and making interactions between businesses and government institutions more straightforward.
The Regulatory Registry was also discussed as an important component of the reform programme. The initiative seeks to make applicable regulatory requirements clearer and easier for businesses to identify. A more accessible regulatory framework can help businesses understand the rules and procedures relevant to their operations while reducing uncertainty around compliance requirements. Alongside this, the Pakistan Business Portal is being developed to provide businesses with a more coordinated and accessible interface for engaging with government institutions and accessing facilitation mechanisms.
The meeting also highlighted SIFC’s whole-of-government approach to business and investment facilitation. This approach brings together federal, provincial and sector-specific stakeholders with the aim of supporting coordinated implementation of reforms. Engagement with provincial governments remains an important part of the process because many regulatory and business-related matters involve institutions at different levels of government. Coordination across these institutions is therefore being pursued to ensure that facilitation measures are implemented through a broader institutional framework.
The World Bank delegation acknowledged SIFC’s approach to business facilitation, particularly its engagement with provincial governments. The Bank recognized the importance of coordinated efforts involving different government stakeholders in improving Pakistan’s regulatory and business climate. The engagement also reflects the role of development partners in supporting institutional reforms that seek to make regulatory systems more accessible and responsive to the needs of businesses and investors.
SIFC said it continues to work toward creating a more streamlined, transparent and business-friendly environment by coordinating among government institutions and supporting initiatives aimed at reducing procedural complexity. The council said the measures under discussion would provide businesses and investors with clearer regulatory requirements, improved institutional coordination and easier access to government facilitation mechanisms.
The initiatives are being pursued as part of broader efforts to support entrepreneurship, investment and sustainable private-sector-led economic activity in Pakistan. Continued coordination between SIFC, the World Bank, federal authorities and provincial governments is expected to remain relevant as regulatory reforms move forward. The focus on simplifying procedures and improving access to government services is intended to create a more structured framework through which businesses and investors can navigate Pakistan’s regulatory environment.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.