PM Shehbaz Sharif Consults Top Business Leaders on Budget 2026-27, Reaffirms Export-Led Growth Strategy
The delegation included prominent business figures such as Mian Muhammad Mansha, Arif Habib, Atif Bajwa, Muhammad Ali Tabba, Musadaq Zulqarnain, Ziad Bashir, Shahzad Saleem, Zeela Munir, Umar Saeed, Umar Mansha, Yousaf Saeed, Kamran Arshad, Khurram Mukhtar, Asif Peer, Sultan Gohar Ejaz, Fawad Anwar, Zulfiqar Hayat, Javed Iqbal, Yousaf Hussain, Amir Ibrahim, Khawaja Masood Akhtar and Ejaz Nabi.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister praised the role of Pakistan’s business community, describing them as “ambassadors of Pakistan and the country’s identity across the world.”
He thanked the business community for supporting the government during challenging economic conditions and emphasized that a strong partnership between the public and private sectors remains essential for sustainable economic growth.
“The consultation process with the business community is of critical importance in shaping economic policies,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government remains committed to an export-led growth model, which forms the cornerstone of its economic strategy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government is taking steps to bring the informal economy into the tax net and is incorporating relief measures for the public in the upcoming budget. He noted that business-friendly policies have helped stabilize the economy and restore the confidence of foreign investors.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s focus on promoting industries that enhance domestic production, increase exports and generate employment opportunities. He stressed that growth in the industrial, agricultural and information technology sectors would further strengthen the economy and create jobs.
He further informed participants that technical and vocational training programs have been launched for young people to improve employability and enable them to contribute more effectively to national development.
During the meeting, officials briefed the delegation on key reforms and development initiatives aimed at promoting business, industry and trade. Participants were informed that reforms had been introduced in tax tribunals to ensure the swift disposal of tax-related cases through a transparent recruitment process.
The government also shared progress on plans to establish Special Commercial Courts, upgrade the M-10 Motorway and the Pipri Freight Corridor to improve connectivity between Karachi’s ports and inland regions, and construct the M-13 Motorway linking Kharian and Rawalpindi to reduce travel time between Lahore and Islamabad.
Officials further highlighted the planned upgradation of Pakistan Railways’ ML-1 and ML-2 projects to improve freight transportation and trade logistics, as well as the development of a National AI Transformation Plan to accelerate digital modernization.
Business leaders praised the government’s vision for promoting digital payments and a documented economy, welcomed tax reforms and ease-of-doing-business measures, and thanked the Prime Minister for reducing electricity tariffs for industries, addressing tax refund issues and abolishing the Export Development Levy.
The business community reaffirmed its commitment to continue working closely with the government to support economic recovery, industrial growth, export expansion and job creation.
The meeting was attended by several federal ministers, senior government officials, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, and representatives of relevant institutions.