Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated Pakistan’s first-ever Business Facilitation Center (BFC) in Islamabad, established with the aim of creating a one-stop solution for investors and entrepreneurs. Developed under the supervision of the Board of Investment, the center is designed to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, streamline business registration, and provide guidance on regulatory requirements, licensing, and permits. By centralizing services, the government hopes to significantly improve the ease of doing business in the country and attract greater foreign and domestic investment.
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for efficiency and professionalism in the center’s operations, urging departments to provide seamless services that reflect international best practices. He noted that the facility should go beyond simply being a physical structure, calling on officials to ensure investors are met with genuine support, timely assistance, and a welcoming environment. The prime minister also unveiled a plaque marking the launch and expressed his intent to replicate the model across other provinces if it meets its objectives. He credited Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, BOI Secretary, and their team for their efforts in establishing the facility and for hiring a skilled workforce to operate it.
The BFC is structured to provide a wide range of services that were previously scattered across multiple government offices. Investors can now submit applications related to special economic zones, licensing, and payments at one location. The system is integrated to capture essential details such as business type, loan and equity structures, target market, export potential, expected employment generation, and utility requirements. Applicants will be able to track the progress of their submissions, view attached documents, and receive timely notifications of any missing requirements. This streamlined mechanism is expected to cut down procedural delays and increase transparency in how applications are processed.
Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh hailed the initiative as a milestone in investment facilitation, highlighting how businesses previously had to navigate a maze of departments to complete essential procedures. With the establishment of the BFC, timelines for business approvals are expected to be significantly reduced, making Pakistan a more attractive destination for investors. Federal ministers Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ahad Cheema, Dr Musadik Malik, and senior government officers attended the launch ceremony, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving the investment climate.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that Pakistan must learn from global models of business facilitation and adapt them locally to encourage both foreign and domestic entrepreneurs. He stressed that the center should become a showcase for investment-friendly reforms, projecting Pakistan as a country committed to reducing red tape and creating an enabling environment for growth. The government hopes the BFC will help unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen Pakistan’s reputation as an emerging market for global investors.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
