Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz says doing business in Pakistan is difficult, calling on the bureaucracy to remove unnecessary hurdles that discourage entrepreneurs and slow down economic progress. She emphasized that ensuring ease of business and improving public facilities are among her government’s top priorities.
Speaking at a meeting on law and order in Lahore, the chief minister said that creating obstacles is easy, but facilitating lawful work is the true test of governance. “There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a rightful person get what they deserve,” she remarked.
Maryam Nawaz noted that bureaucratic red tape often frustrates investors and business owners before they even begin operations. She said the public must feel that the state stands beside them in all legitimate matters.
“If people are forced to pay bribes, seek recommendations, or face unnecessary trouble for lawful work, it is a failure of the government,” she warned, directing officials to make it easier for citizens to conduct business in the province.
The chief minister also announced that departments and officers facilitating citizens would be recognized and rewarded by the Punjab government. During the session, she was briefed on the Punjab Information Technology Board’s (PITB) new e-business programme aimed at streamlining business processes.
Maryam Nawaz instructed authorities to set a two-week timeline for e-business applications and ensure that all departments issue required NOCs under one roof within the given timeframe. She also ordered weekly reviews of pending cases to ensure efficiency and transparency.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a notable increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), attributing the improvement to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and its investor-friendly policies. According to SBP data, the energy sector attracted the highest inflows in September, with USD 87 million, followed by financial services with USD 66.58 million and food processing with USD 25.3 million.
The report also highlighted that the energy sector remained the top recipient of foreign investment during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, showing growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s infrastructure and power industries.
The remarks by Maryam Nawaz saying doing business in Pakistan is difficult come at a time when the government is pushing for digital transformation and administrative reforms to attract more domestic and foreign investment.