Mr. Suleman Ghani addressed NMC participants on the critical role of competitive domestic markets in Pakistan’s economic development. He emphasized that success in international trade is unattainable without first strengthening local commerce, noting that Pakistan’s domestic markets suffer from significant distortions despite inherent advantages like historical continuity, large consumer bases, and established transportation networks.
The session highlighted structural challenges including informality, fragmented provincial regulations, outdated policies, and a disconnect between labor skills and market needs. Mr. Ghani proposed concrete reforms like sector-specific policy directives, streamlined compliance regimes, formalization incentives, and reduced government footprint to lower business costs. He stressed that transitioning away from unnecessary subsidies while investing in standards and knowledge-building would enhance market efficiency. The lecture followed an inquisitive Q&A session, which the participants utilized for clarification of many concepts.
