Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday held a virtual meeting with presidents and senior representatives of chambers of commerce and business entities from across Pakistan to discuss the prevailing economic situation, upcoming budget priorities, and measures to strengthen economic recovery, the Finance Division said in a statement.
The meeting, attended by Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials from the Finance Division, Revenue Division, and Tax Policy Office, lasted nearly 90 minutes.
Opening the session, the finance minister welcomed participants and highlighted Pakistan’s growing global prominence amid evolving regional dynamics. He emphasized the importance of structured dialogue with the private sector to gather first-hand insights ahead of key engagements with international financial institutions and global counterparts.
“The purpose of this meeting extends beyond taxation and budget discussions,” he said, “focusing on practical ideas to leverage opportunities for trade, investment, and sustainable economic growth.”
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Aurangzeb noted that Pakistan entered the current challenging phase from a position of relative macroeconomic stability, supported by fiscal discipline and strengthened external buffers.
Highlighting recent economic developments, he pointed to improved fiscal management, fulfillment of external obligations, and targeted support for vulnerable segments.
He urged participants to provide actionable proposals, particularly in trade facilitation, logistics, and regional connectivity, to capitalize on Pakistan’s potential as a transshipment and investment hub.
Business leaders presented recommendations to improve the overall business environment, facilitate exports, enhance productivity, and align policies with regional benchmarks.
They stressed the need to reduce operational inefficiencies, optimize infrastructure use, and attract investment across key sectors, including manufacturing and emerging industries.
Participants also highlighted measures to improve liquidity flows, support export-oriented industries, and diversify markets. They underlined the importance of policy predictability, consultative engagement in budget-making, and targeted facilitation to drive investment and long-term growth.
Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani appreciated the constructive input and said many proposals aligned with the government’s reform agenda. He stressed the importance of prioritizing measures that deliver maximum economic impact within available fiscal space.
Senior officials from the Tax Policy Office and Federal Board of Revenue briefed participants on ongoing consultations and assured that proposals from chambers were being evaluated to formulate balanced and effective policy measures.
Concluding the meeting, Finance Minister Aurangzeb thanked participants and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with the business community to achieve economic stability, resilience, and sustainable growth.
The meeting included business leaders from across the country, including FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, Karachi Chamber President Rehan Hanif, Lahore Chamber President Faheem Saigol, Rawalpindi Chamber President Usman Shoukat, and representatives from Quetta, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sarhad, and Islamabad chambers.
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