Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a high-level Regulatory Reforms Sub-Committee meeting in Islamabad on November 27, 2025, to review proposed measures for listed companies. Representatives from the SECP, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Board of Investment attended, with international participation including Scott Jacob, as the committee examined strategic steps to strengthen Pakistan’s capital markets.
Members discussed persistent concerns over the weak performance of the stock market, the limited scale of listed companies and their modest contribution to GDP. The meeting highlighted the need for targeted reforms that make it easier for firms to list, scale and contribute more meaningfully to economic growth while maintaining robust oversight.
On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasised accelerating efforts to simplify the regulatory system by removing unnecessary restrictions. He said the objective is to restore investor confidence and stimulate economic activity by adopting less restrictive, high-performance regulatory frameworks. These adjustments are designed to reduce compliance pressures on businesses while strengthening essential compliance mechanisms.
Reform proposals presented to the committee draw on global best practices and aim to introduce operational flexibility for listed companies alongside improved regulatory standards. Developed in consultation with the private sector, the package seeks alignment with international benchmarks to modernise the corporate sector, attract investment and support sustainable economic development in Pakistan.
