KARACHI: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF), a representative body of traders and businesspersons in the country, on Monday urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s intervention in outlining a “clear economic roadmap” to promote long-term investment in Pakistan.
Business confidence in Pakistan has fallen sharply amid rising inflation, high energy costs and an unpredictable tax environment. Currency volatility and slowing demand have prompted many firms to delay investments and scale back expansion plans.
In a letter to PM Sharif, PBF President Khawaja Mehboob-ur-Rehman highlighted the challenges facing the business community, including high input costs, soaring energy tariffs and an increasingly “uncompetitive” tax regime that weakens exports.
“Looking ahead to 2026, the Pakistan Business Forum urged the prime minister to provide the business community with a clear, credible, and forward-looking economic roadmap,” read a PBF statement.
“Such clarity... is essential to restore confidence, encourage investment, and enable long-term planning by businesses.”
The South Asian country of more than 241 million people is currently navigating a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program since averting a default in 2023.
Besides introducing structural reforms relating to expansion of the country’s tax base and privatization of loss-making entities, the government of PM Sharif says it is taking various measures to boost foreign investment and trade.
The PBF highlighted the business community is ready to play its role in competing with regional markets, if provided with the “necessary competitive tools.” It outlined critical reforms relating to regionally competitive electricity tariffs and corporate tax rates.
An increase in electricity tariffs would put further strain on industries and could lead to widespread downsizing and the closure of industrial units, according to the PBF.
It urged the government to include business representatives in the policymaking process to ensure it understands “on-ground realities.”
