Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the National Tariff Commission to digitise as part of a wider reform push aimed at improving transparency and aligning the institution with modern standards. He said the restructuring of the National Tariff Commission was necessary to support industrial growth and attract investment in Pakistan.
Chairing a review meeting on reforms in the commission, the prime minister also called for a comprehensive strategy to resolve its legal and administrative issues. He said the effort should help promote industry, trade, and investment in the country.
The prime minister directed officials to digitise the commission’s functions to increase transparency and improve standards. He also stressed the need to study global best practices to ensure the commission’s restructuring and performance meet international benchmarks.
He said innovation should be introduced in the NTC through information technology, artificial intelligence, and other modern tools. At the same time, he ordered the simplification of legal complications in the commission’s appellate tribunal.
Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials to take special steps to facilitate investors and industrialists. He said businesses should be protected from unnecessary legal and administrative complications that may slow investment or industrial activity.
The prime minister also warned against delays in the disposal of cases. He directed the creation of a system to ensure that all cases are decided within a specified timeframe. The prime minister said the National Tariff Commission’s staff should be trained according to international standards. He also directed that professional experts be engaged to provide practical guidance on reform measures.
During the meeting, the NTC chairman briefed participants on the legal, administrative, and financial reforms being carried out under the approved roadmap. Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal Khan, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Musadiq Malik, and Ahad Khan Cheema attended the meeting, along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and other senior officials.
