ISLAMABAD: Around 170 amendments have been made to the Companies Act 2017 to facilitate company registration and business operations and to modernise Pakistan’s corporate regulatory framework.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan disclosed this at a news conference on Friday, alongside Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain and members of his cabinet.

The adviser said the complexity of the regulatory framework and the difficulties of doing business had been major factors discouraging foreign investment in Pakistan.

“Over the past 78 years, laws and regulations have been introduced to meet various needs. However, over time, unnecessary complexities and overlapping requirements have accumulated, making it difficult for businesses to operate efficiently,” the adviser said.

Haroon Akhtar says reforms to simplify registration, cut compliance costs and attract investment

He highlighted that 170 amendments have been approved by the federal cabinet and the relevant bill has been forwarded to parliament.

Mr Khan said that regulatory reviews were underway in several sectors, including dairy, maritime, beverages, oil refineries, pharmaceuticals and restaurants. The objective is to identify redundant requirements, streamline procedures and ensure that regulations serve legitimate public and economic interests without imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses.

According to Mr Khan, the government studied international regulatory systems, particularly those of Delaware in the US, the UK and Canada, as benchmarks for the proposed reforms.

He explained that the government was conducting a comprehensive review of regulators and of laws and regulations affecting businesses across the country.

The reform process has made substantial progress, with approximately 60-70 per cent of the overall work completed. Reform proposals submitted by various institutions recommend eliminating, on average, 70-75pc of unnecessary or duplicative regulations.

Highlighting the proposed Asaan Karobar Act, Mr Khan said the government was working to establish a business environment aligned with international best practices.

The initiative aims to simplify regulatory procedures, reduce compliance costs, and create a more predictable, investor-friendly framework for businesses operating in Pakistan.

The government has also engaged a senior international consultant with experience in regulatory reform across 135 countries to support the process.

Mr Khan said the government was undertaking historic reforms to simplify the business environment, remove unnecessary regulatory hurdles, and promote domestic and foreign investment in Pakistan.

He emphasised that effective reforms required close coordination between the federal government and provincial and regional administrations.

The government was working to advance reforms not only at the federal level but also in coordination with the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“We want to ensure that federal and provincial reforms are aligned so that businesses across Pakistan can operate in an environment that is simpler, more transparent and more consistent,” he said.

Industrial inspections

Regarding industrial inspections, Mr Khan noted that businesses often faced multiple inspections from different departments, including those responsible for labour, environmental protection, fire safety, buildings, and boilers. Overlapping procedures could disrupt operations and create avoidable compliance costs.

He said the proposed reforms would bring greater transparency and consistency to the inspection system, protect the rights of businesses and industrialists, and reduce unnecessary difficulties while maintaining essential regulatory safeguards. The government was considering international best practices to develop a more efficient and balanced inspection framework.

The adviser also outlined plans for an integrated, single-window digital portal where businesses can submit applications and connect with relevant provincial authorities and regulatory bodies. The proposed platform is intended to reduce the need for businesses to visit multiple departments and help them complete necessary regulatory procedures through a single point of access.

“Our objective is to make investment easier, reduce the cost of doing business and restore the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors. Businesses should be able to focus on production, innovation and expansion rather than navigating unnecessary procedural hurdles,” he said.

Mr Khan reiterated that the government was committed to creating an enabling environment in which investors could make decisions with confidence, industries could expand, and new employment opportunities could be generated.

He concluded that simplifying business regulations, strengthening domestic industry, and attracting investment were essential to sustainable economic growth, industrial development, and job creation in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026