Pakistan has enacted a landmark law making business reforms a legal obligation, effectively barring government agencies from imposing any conditions on businesses that are not officially notified, the Federal Minister for Investment announced on Wednesday. This fundamental shift aims to protect investors from arbitrary demands and cement a rules-based economic environment.
Addressing the 5th Pakistan Prosperity Forum 2025 as the Chief Guest, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, who also chairs the Board of Investment (BOI), identified the Asaan Karobar Act 2025 as a major milestone. He asserted that the legislation provides a crucial legal safeguard for the country’s economic restructuring efforts. “Reform is now a legal obligation,” the minister declared.
In his keynote speech at the Islamabad hotel, Sheikh underscored the government’s transition away from a discretionary system. ‘Pakistan is now shifting from a negotiation-based economy to a rules-based investment destination,’ he stated, highlighting a core objective of the current administration’s economic agenda.
The minister detailed that the nation’s investment policy is built upon the pillars of predictability, transparency, and investor confidence. He explained that these principles are essential for achieving the deep structural changes needed for lasting economic stability.
He noted that the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms (CCoRR) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) are collaborating to sustain the momentum of these changes. Their combined efforts are focused on cultivating a competitive and business-friendly climate across the country.
The forum, organized by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) under the theme ‘Reforms for Growth,’ convened a diverse group of economists, corporate leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss the nation’s economic trajectory.
Concluding his address, Sheikh reaffirmed the government’s resolve to simplify, digitize, and expedite investment procedures. He thanked the international and local participants for their contributions and reiterated the BOI’s commitment to advancing policies designed to position Pakistan as a premier regional investment hub.