PROVINCE REPORT
ISLAMABAD: “Pakistan offers immense potential for youth and women to drive economic growth and innovation, including in information technology and AI fields; however, we need to urgently dismantle the systemic barriers holding them back to truly unlock this demographic dividend.” This powerful notion was shared by Sheikh Amir Waheed, business thought leader and former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), during the latest session of the Freedom Gate Dialogues held at Freedom Gate Prosperity (FGP).
The dialogue was actively participated in by industry experts, members of academia, and young students who were keen to learn about entrepreneurship, market realities, and the evolving business environment in Pakistan.
While responding to a diverse range of probing questions by the host of the dialogue, Shafqat Aziz Mallick, Sheikh Waheed asserted that realizing the country’s economic potential is impossible without ensuring genuine “ease of doing business.” He highlighted how bureaucratic red tape and complex compliance mechanisms actively discourage emerging entrepreneurs and small traders from entering the formal market, stifling grassroots innovation.
The conversation naturally pivoted to the structural flaws within the current economic framework. Expanding on the need for a simplified, fair-for-all taxation system, the discussion emphasized the urgent need to remove existing market anomalies. Shiekh Amir Waheed, as an expert on the subject, highlighted that the expansion of the Third Schedule of the Sales Tax Act. Could play important role in addressing taxation related issues at retail level. The participants shared agreement with his view that by shifting tax collection to the manufacturing stage and mandating printed retail prices on essential groceries, the government can eliminate downstream supply chain friction, protect honest businesses from undue regulatory harassment, and effectively shield consumers from arbitrary retail inflation.
In his concluding remarks, Muhammad Anwar, CEO of FGP, reinforced the organization’s commitment to inclusive economic progress. He stated that FGP always encourages youth and women to come forward, equipping them with the strategic narratives and platforms needed to actively participate in shaping Pakistan’s policy landscape.
Earlier in the proceedings, Urooj Raza Sayyami, Board Director of FGP, formally welcomed the distinguished guest and participants, setting a collaborative tone for the day’s deliberations.
The session was highly interactive, characterized by the vibrant involvement and insightful questioning of the participants, once again establishing the Freedom Gate Dialogues as a premier forum for quality, impact-driven economic discourse.
