Islamabad Chamber of Commerce proposes economic master plan

Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), has proposed a long-term Islamabad Economic Master Plan to transform the capital into a regional hub for investment, technology, and international commerce.

Mehmood emphasized that Islamabad possesses the necessary infrastructure, diplomatic presence, and educated workforce to connect Pakistan with global markets. He identified priority sectors for this strategic vision, including IT-enabled services, digital trade, healthcare, financial services, and business tourism. He advocated for stronger digital infrastructure and closer collaboration between universities and industries to leverage the city’s technology ecosystem.

On a broader national scale, the ICCI President called for a shift away from fragmented, short-term economic policies toward a consistent, export-oriented roadmap. He argued that sustainable growth must be driven by exports rather than borrowing and consumption. To achieve this, Mehmood stressed the need to address structural constraints such as high energy costs, taxation issues, and regulatory barriers, aiming to make Pakistan a competitive environment for global production.