Business Community Lauds Finance Minister Aurangzeb’s

Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, and Former Provincial Minister Information Technology, today commended the recent interview of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan. He appreciated the Finance Minister’s clear economic roadmap, highlighting the importance of private sector growth and ongoing structural reforms, which align with the goals of the Pakistani business community.

“The Finance Minister’s assertion that the private sector is the engine of the economy, with the government’s role being to provide a supportive ecosystem, is a message we have long championed” said Mian Zahid Hussain. “His optimism about achieving a respectable GDP growth rate this fiscal year, despite global and domestic challenges, sends a crucial signal of confidence to investors both locally and internationally.”

Mian Zahid Hussain welcomed the Minister’s reiteration of the commitment to structural reforms in key areas such as taxation, energy, and the privatization of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). He emphasized that broadening the tax base and addressing the persistent circular debt in the energy sector are essential for creating a level playing field and reducing the cost of doing business.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that the push for economic liberalization and trade competitiveness to boost exports, which the Minister termed necessary to trigger an ‘East Asia moment’ for Pakistan, is seen as the only sustainable path to economic health. The business community supports the shift away from protectionist policies that have long hindered the country’s industrial potential.

The focus on the monetization of CPEC infrastructure through Special Economic Zones and attracting investments in key sectors like minerals, mining, agriculture, IT, and pharmaceuticals is viewed as a significant opportunity for private sector participation and growth.

Macroeconomic stability is essential, but not the end goal. The business community awaits policy actions to turn this stability into real growth for enterprises. Mian Zahid Hussain stated it’s time for growth, not just stabilization. We urge the government to implement swift policies that reduce red tape, cut energy tariffs, and simplify taxes. The Finance Minister’s banking experience should drive a practical approach, and businesses are ready to collaborate for Pakistan’s economic success.

Mian Zahid Hussain stated, the business community reaffirms its support for the government’s reform agenda and anticipates a sustained, consultative process to ensure that policies reflect the ground realities and drive the national economy towards long-term prosperity.