KARACHI: Economic experts and business leaders have stressed the urgent need to empower Pakistan’s private sector to lead regional trade and investment, particularly with China, Malaysia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. They warned that bureaucratic hurdles, inconsistent policies, and weak trade facilitation remain major barriers to realizing the country’s true economic potential.
Pakistan’s strategic location gives it a natural advantage as a regional trade hub, but trade volumes with key partners remain well below potential. Despite initiatives like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and preferential trade agreements with Malaysia, the private sector’s role in exports, joint ventures, and investment remains limited.
Business leaders pointed out that complex customs procedures, unpredictable tariff changes, overlapping regulations, and lack of modern infrastructure discourage entrepreneurs from expanding their operations. They called for immediate bureaucratic and regulatory reforms to introduce single-window systems, stable tax frameworks, and faster approvals to facilitate trade.
They highlighted that private companies could play a key role in expanding trade in halal meat, agriculture, minerals, IT, tourism, and construction materials – particularly with Malaysia, China, and Gulf states. Experts also urged the government to modernize logistics and border facilities to unlock trade with Central Asia.
Economic analysts emphasized that sustainable economic recovery cannot rely solely on IMF programs. “Real growth will come from private sector-driven trade and investment, not temporary financial bailouts,” one expert said.
They called for a clear, predictable, and business-friendly policy environment that enables the private sector to lead Pakistan’s regional integration and trade expansion.
