Sindh eyes Rs67b savings from reforms

CM reviews 58 approved reforms, digital business services, Asaan Karobar Act

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday reviewed regulatory reforms aimed at improving the province's business and investment climate, with 58 approved measures projected to save businesses Rs67.38 billion annually in compliance costs.

At a meeting with Prime Minister's Coordination Committee on Regulatory Reforms, CM Shah called for simpler procedures, faster approvals and reduced compliance costs, stressing that reforms must deliver tangible benefits to businesses and investors.

The meeting reviewed digital business facilitation, the proposed Sindh Asaan Karobar Act, integration of provincial and federal business portals, and Pakistan's performance under the World Bank's Business Ready (B-READY) framework.

CM Shah said the provincial government was committed to modernising regulations, promoting digital governance and facilitating investment.

The Sindh Business One-Stop Shop has automated around 150 business-related services across 19 provincial departments, facilitating electronic applications, payments, verifications and certificates. More than 16,500 electronic permits have been issued, while over 800 government officials have received training.

The meeting also discussed integrating the platform with the federal Pakistan Business Portal to provide investors with easier access to government services.

The prime minister's delegation was led by Adviser on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan. Provincial ministers Jam Khan Shoro and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah and other senior officials also attended.

The 58 approved reforms under Package No 7 cover fisheries and aquaculture, dairy and beverages. The package includes 43 reforms for fisheries and aquaculture and 15 for dairy and beverages.

According to the briefing, the measures are expected to save 798 days in processing time for fisheries and aquaculture businesses and 643 days for the dairy and beverages sector.

Annual compliance cost savings are estimated at Rs8.97 billion for fisheries and aquaculture and Rs58.41 billion for dairy and beverages.

The reforms include simplifying licensing and registration, eliminating duplicate documentation, reducing unnecessary inspections and expanding digital applications. A broader national programme covering 581 reforms across eight packages is expected to save businesses more than Rs163 billion annually.

Officials identified 173 indicators relating to provincial and joint federal-provincial reforms under the B-READY framework, which uses Karachi as Pakistan's representative city for assessing the business environment.

Implementation has been completed for 12 indicators, while 161 remain outstanding; nine were also classified as partially implemented under the monitoring framework. The action plan identifies 99 reforms for implementation by Sindh independently and 74 requiring joint federal-provincial action.

CM Shah directed departments to strengthen coordination, monitor progress and establish clear responsibilities to ensure measurable improvements.

The proposed Sindh Asaan Karobar Act, intended to institutionalise regulatory reforms and align provincial measures with the federal initiative, is undergoing scrutiny by the Law Department before consideration by the provincial cabinet.

The meeting also reviewed plans for an Investment Climate Improvement Cell to monitor reforms and facilitate implementation across departments. Recruitment through the Institute of Business Administration Karachi is underway, with the team expected to be in place by December 2026.

Haroon Akhtar Khan stressed closer federal-provincial coordination, simpler business procedures and stronger digital platforms to reduce compliance costs and attract investment.