ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that promoting private investment is essential to Pakistan’s economic growth, saying private equity funds can help channel capital into businesses, expand economic activity and create jobs.
He made the remarks while chairing a meeting on promoting private investment and achieving sustainable economic growth. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and senior officials attended the meeting.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to quickly prepare a roadmap for establishing a Private Equity Fund aimed at supporting investment and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
He also called for a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s public equity market and develop private equity funds, with the aim of making more capital available for businesses and creating a more attractive environment for foreign investors.
Shehbaz said private equity funds could serve as an effective catalyst for investment, business expansion and employment generation. He identified mining, agriculture, livestock, energy and information technology among the sectors with strong potential to drive economic growth.
The prime minister noted that investment by the banking sector remains limited, making it increasingly important to develop alternative sources of financing.
He said the government was prioritising measures to strengthen Pakistan’s economy on a sustainable footing by encouraging private-sector-led investment, industrial expansion and export growth.
