Govt urged to adopt investor friendly policies

LAHORE:SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry former president Iftikhar Ali Malik Wednesday suggested the government to unlock sustainable development by adopting investor-friendly policies which also promote partnership between local and foreign private sectors.

Iftikhar Ali Malik, in a media statement issued here Wednesday, asserted that foreign direct investment (FDI) is another crucial element of economic growth. “Pakistan needs to aggressively market its investment potential by improving infrastructure and ease of doing business. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the CPEC can serve as magnets for foreign investors if they are efficiently managed with incentives like tax breaks, land acquisition facilitation, and reduced energy costs,” he remarked.

Malik also stressed the need for continuity in import and export and other economic policies, and an effective mechanism to control exchange rate, besides simplifying tax regulations. The government should ensure long-term policy consistency and transparency, offering investors a stable business environment, adding that public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be strengthened in key sectors of energy, technology, and agriculture, he added.

He further said that encouraging private sector-led infrastructure development would reduce fiscal pressure on the government while enhancing economic activity. “Digitisation and financial sector reforms can further help attract venture capital and startup investments”.

Malik said Pakistan’s economic revival depends on creating a business-friendly environment that assures investors of long-term returns. “By improving governance, ensuring policy stability, and fostering innovation, the government can successfully charm private sector investors, paving the way for robust economic growth,” he concluded.