Shehbaz Sharif pushes regulatory reforms and reviews political situation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated a series of regulatory reforms aimed at improving the business environment and promoting investment in Pakistan. During a recent meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a more transparent and effective regulatory system, citing the modernization of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan as a model for other institutions. He directed the establishment of a single regulatory registry to compile all national rules and called for the nationwide implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act to ensure consistency across provinces.

To ensure accountability, the Prime Minister ordered third-party validation of these reforms. He also instructed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to coordinate with provincial governments to build consensus on these changes. Additionally, a deadline of March 2027 was set to complete the merger of eBiz Punjab and BFC Islamabad.

In a separate political development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore to discuss the national political landscape and international matters. The meeting occurred amid a political deadlock between the government and the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), following failed attempts to establish a framework for dialogue regarding jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.