ISLAMABAD: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has underlined the urgent need for comprehensive measures, supported by a consultative approach and continuity of policy, to enhance Pakistan’s industrial competitiveness, productivity, and exports.
Talking to various business delegations at the Chamber House on Monday, Sardar Tahir Mehmood stressed that reducing the cost of doing business and bringing down energy tariffs are essential steps toward meaningfully enhancing the country’s export potential and attracting investment.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s trade and industrial sectors are facing multiple challenges, including high production costs, excessive energy tariffs, complex taxation systems, and heavy duties on raw materials and intermediary goods.
These factors, he said, are adversely impacting the competitiveness of local industries in both domestic and global markets.
The ICCI President emphasized that revitalizing the industrial sector requires predictable, business-friendly, and long-term economic policies developed in close consultation with the private sector.
He called on the government to reduce tariffs on industrial inputs and raw materials, simplify tax procedures, and create a stable policy environment that encourages sustainable growth and industrial expansion.
He further remarked that the continuity of policies is crucial to maintaining investor confidence and ensuring consistent growth in exports. Frequent policy changes, he said, disrupt industrial planning and discourage both domestic and foreign investors.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood also highlighted the importance of energy sector reforms, urging the government to provide affordable and reliable energy to industries. “Without reducing energy costs, it will be difficult for our export-oriented sectors to compete internationally,” he added.
He reiterated that ICCI is committed to working closely with the government and all relevant stakeholders to develop actionable strategies that enhance competitiveness, strengthen the export base, and promote industrial revival.
The ICCI President concluded by reaffirming that Pakistan’s economic future lies in its ability to produce, innovate, and export competitively. For that, he said, there is a dire need for collaborative policymaking, consistent economic governance, and an enabling business environment that empowers the private sector to drive national growth.
