By Our Correspondent
LAHORE, October 27: Following the Prime Minister’s recent meeting with leading businesspersons on October 23, the government has constituted several high-level working groups to strengthen exports, investment, and industrial growth. However, the composition of these groups has drawn mixed reactions from within the business community.
According to an official notification from the Prime Minister’s Office, prominent industrialists including Muhammad Ali Tabba (Lucky Cement), Musadaq Zulqarnain (Interloop Holdings), Saquib Shirazi (Atlas Honda), Shahzad Saleem (Nishat Chunian), and Ziad Bashir (Gul Ahmed Textile Mills) have been appointed to head key working groups on energy, exports, industry, and taxation.
The groups have been tasked with formulating recommendations to enhance competitiveness, promote value addition, and expand employment opportunities, with final reports due by November 15, 2025.
While many business leaders have welcomed the move as a step toward structured consultation between the public and private sectors, some have expressed reservations about the selection process.
They argue that broader representation from trade bodies, chambers of commerce, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could make the initiative more inclusive and reflective of diverse business interests.
Analysts say that engagement with experienced private-sector professionals can bring valuable insights, but transparency and wider participation remain key to the credibility and success of such policy forums.
They say most of the members have reportedly been part of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council for the past 18 months but no significant growth in industry and exports is seen.
Critics question why the same individuals are being reappointed to key committees. Several analysts have also expressed concern that the inclusion of prominent businessmen who, according to them, do not have prior experience in public service or elected representation in trade bodies—may raise questions of transparency and inclusivity in the government’s decision-making process.
On the other hand, the overnment sources maintain that the working groups were formed purely on the basis of merit and professional experience, and that their recommendations will help the government design pragmatic reforms for sustainable economic revival.
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