President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday launched Asaan Karobar Program in Islamabad as part of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Policy to lessen the compliance burden on businesses.
The President, while addressing the launching ceremony of Asaan Karobar Programme, said that Pakistan has taken numerous steps to provide a conducive environment for businesses to promote investment in the country. Ease of doing business and use of innovative strategies through digitalization was essential to ensuring sustainable business activities in the country, he added.
President Alvi said a country’s prime interest was to promote business activities and highlighted the importance of taking on board the stakeholders for a successful policy formulation. He mentioned that the government’s effective strategy of holding consultations with the relevant traders and businessmen helped revive the textile industry.
Earlier speaking to the ceremony, Abdul Razak Dawood, the Adviser on Commerce said that the country’s key to industrialization and economic uplift can only be achieved through ease of doing business and reducing the cost of business. He also added that due to prudent policies of the government Pakistan’s ranking in the ease of doing business stands improved.
Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine, in his remarks, appreciated Pakistan’s hard work for introducing reforms to promote business in the country, assuring that World Bank will continue to support Pakistan in implementing reforms initiatives.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Commerce and the Board of Investment.
Board of Investment (BoI) reforms:
In a recent announcement, the Board of Investment (BoI) stated the provision of a dedicated portal to showcase all reforms under the ‘Asaan Karobaar Programme’ setting off to create a business-friendly environment in the country.
A delegation led by BoI Chairman Azfar Ahsan and comprising Secretary Fareena Mazhar briefed President Arif Alvi that 112 regulatory reforms have been implemented so far involving 70 federal and provincial departments, which have benefited more than 20 activities of the private sector.