PM Shehbaz Sharif Meets Leading Business Tycoons, Discusses Budget 2026–27 and Economic Reforms
PM Shehbaz Sharif Meets Leading Business Tycoons, Discusses Budget 2026–27 and Economic Reform
Government and business leaders agree on export-led growth, investment promotion, and stronger public–private partnership for economic stability.
Islamabad, June 3, 2026:
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met a delegation of leading industrialists and prominent business figures at the Prime Minister’s Office to consult on preparations for the upcoming federal budget 2026–27 and broader economic reforms.
The delegation included some of Pakistan’s most influential business personalities, such as Mian Muhammad Mansha, Arif Habib, Aftab Baig, Muhammad Ali Tabba, Ali Habib, Umar Saeed, Yousaf Saeed, Ziaf Munir, Kamran Arshad, Khurram Mukhtar, Asif Pira, Sultan Ali Gohar, Fawad Anwar, Zulfiqar Yousaf, and others representing key industrial and commercial sectors.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister described business leaders as “the true ambassadors of Pakistan in the global economy” and thanked them for supporting the government during difficult economic conditions. He stressed that strong collaboration between the government and private sector is essential for sustained economic growth.
He said Pakistan’s economic direction is now focused on export-led growth, with special emphasis on strengthening industry, agriculture, and information technology sectors. He also highlighted government efforts to expand the tax base by bringing the informal economy into the tax net and improving tax administration.
The Prime Minister added that the upcoming budget would include measures aimed at providing relief to the public, promoting investment, and creating employment opportunities—especially for youth through technical and vocational training programs.
During the briefing, officials informed participants about ongoing reforms, including improvements in tax tribunals for faster resolution of cases and the establishment of special commercial courts to facilitate business disputes. Infrastructure upgrades such as the M-10 motorway improvement, Peppri freight corridor development, and work on the M-13 (Kharian–Rawalpindi) motorway were also shared.
The meeting was further briefed on the modernization of Pakistan Railways through ML-1 and ML-2 upgradation projects, aimed at improving freight efficiency and trade logistics. Officials also presented progress on a National AI Transformation Plan, reflecting the government’s focus on digital innovation.
Business leaders appreciated government policies promoting digital payments, documentation of the economy, and ease of doing business. They welcomed recent steps such as improved tax refunds, reduced electricity tariffs for industry, and removal of export development levies.
They also expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic recovery, praised diplomatic efforts for regional peace, and reiterated their commitment to supporting industrial growth, exports, and job creation.
The delegation also presented recommendations for the upcoming budget and assured continued cooperation with the government in strengthening economic stability.
The meeting was attended by several federal ministers, including those for Finance, Law, Petroleum, Power, IT and Telecom, Climate Change, Economic Affairs, and Information, along with senior officials, the State Bank Governor, and the Attorney General.
The session concluded with a shared resolve to deepen public–private cooperation for long-term economic growth and stability.
