PM Imran wants licensing regime for small traders terminated

Imran directs provincial govts to abolish 74 different licences within three days

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to provide relief to the common man and small traders, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the provincial governments to abolish the system of obtaining different licences for business activities at local government level within three days.

According to a statement issued by the PM House on Monday, the prime minister has directed the provincial governments to abolish 74 different licences, simplify the procedure of mandatory licences and introduce an automated system by using modern technology.

During the meeting on licensing regime in the provinces, the prime minister was told that in the current system the businessmen were required to obtain around 150 different licences from metropolitan and municipal corporations, town committees and other institutions.



Complaints of corruption, bribery and harassment of small traders were very common in the licensing system, the PM was apprised.

The prime minister expressed serious concern over the complicated licensing regime. “The condition of licences for small grocery, cloth and ‘Kulcha’ (bread) shops is tantamount to creating difficulties for the common man … such 74 unnecessary licences should immediately be terminated,” said Imran.

He directed to introduce technology-based automated system, where inspection was required, so as not only to simplify the system but also to eliminate the trends of corruption, bribery and harassment.

The prime minister also took serious notice of the hardships faced by the masses in the federal capital due to a significant increase in the municipal services' fees. Imran directed the institutions concerned to remove the people's reservations and revisit the raise.