Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has made significant strides in streamlining business regulations by simplifying 32 out of 176 regulatory processes under its Ease of Doing Business Policy, officials confirmed during a board meeting on Friday. The updates were shared at the eleventh meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade, held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, where the board also approved the fiscal year budget, authorised recruitment to fill vacant posts, and endorsed the formation of committees to support the province’s investment agenda. Since October 2022, the province has attracted cumulative investments exceeding Rs457 billion, while investors have benefited from import duty concessions totaling more than Rs25 billion in various Special Economic Zones.
The board was briefed on completed major investment projects spanning SEZs, industrial ventures, minerals, and tourism, with several initiatives in different stages of implementation. Officials noted that the Ease of Doing Business Cell at KPBOIT, operational since 2021, has been pivotal in implementing reforms. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ease of Doing Business Act 2025 has been enacted, and work on developing supporting rules is ongoing. In parallel, an online portal for Ease of Doing Business has been developed and successfully tested, integrating twelve processes from the Industries Department, Food Department, and Culture and Tourism Authority, with plans to include additional departments by June.
To further facilitate small and medium enterprises, the province has launched a mobile application, BizHub, designed to simplify procedural requirements and enhance engagement with investors. The board was informed of multiple roadshows, seminars, expos, and conferences organised to promote investment, alongside meetings with thirteen foreign delegations. These initiatives are intended to create a more investor-friendly environment, support enterprise development, and improve access to regulatory information through digital means.
During the meeting, the chief minister instructed departments to implement an effective one-window facilitation mechanism for investors, emphasising the importance of streamlined processes in attracting and retaining investment. While acknowledging ongoing improvements in the business climate, he also highlighted that law and order remained a key challenge for the province. The combined efforts of regulatory simplification, digital infrastructure, and proactive investor engagement are expected to strengthen Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s position as a competitive destination for business and economic growth in Pakistan.
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