Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) today welcomed the discussions and measures outlined during a recent meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) committee, aimed at addressing challenges related to business facilitation and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reforms. The meeting marked a significant move towards improving the taxation landscape for businesses in Pakistan and creating an investor-friendly environment.

The meeting was led by Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Acting President of FPCCI, who represented various chambers of commerce and industry from cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. On the government side, Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Bilal Azhar Kayani, chaired the session with participation from senior officials of SIFC, FBR, and key ministries.

The session focused on practical solutions to ease business operations, with participants emphasizing the SIFC's role in policy reform and investor confidence-building amid economic recovery. Mr. Magoon acknowledged the government's commitment to dialogue, highlighting progress in addressing FBR-related concerns, such as e-invoicing and tax compliance processes.

Mr. Magoon also stressed the need to manage the Export Facilitation Scheme abuse, rationalize electricity tariffs for industry, and reduce human interaction in Inland Revenue, mirroring customs' faceless system to minimize maladministration.

The meeting recognized advancements like reversing certain budgetary provisions from the Finance Bill 2025-26, which business leaders welcomed. They emphasized the importance of phased rollouts to accommodate the realities faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Mr. Kayani reiterated the government's commitment to resolving bottlenecks, enhancing efficiency, and reducing compliance burdens. He highlighted SIFC's role as a single-window facilitator, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision for export growth and economic revival.

Mr. Zaki Aijaz, VP FPCCI, expressed optimism that these initiatives would boost foreign direct investment in sectors like agriculture, minerals, IT, energy, and defense. The federation calls for continued consultations to fully harness Pakistan's export potential.