ISLAMABAD ( WNAM FREPORT): The inaugural meeting of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Committee on Shielding Investors from Harassment and Providing Full Institutional Support for Economic Progress was held at NAB Headquarters, bringing together senior NAB officials and representatives of leading chambers of commerce & Industries to discuss measures for creating a business-friendly environment, protecting investors and promoting sustainable economic growth
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman NAB Syed Ehtesham Qadir Shah, Prosecutor General Accountability Sohail Nasir, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bilal Riaz Burki, and Assistant Director Zahid Usman and other. Representatives of the business community included ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, who is also the focal person of the Committee, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Talat Mehmood, President of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, Secretary General Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahid Khalil, PPMA’s Arshad Mehmood.
The participants held detailed discussions on the challenges confronting the business community, particularly issues arising from interactions with various government departments, and explored institutional measures to eliminate unnecessary hurdles, ensure transparency, and provide effective support to legitimate investors. The meeting emphasized the importance of establishing a coordinated mechanism for addressing business-related complaints and strengthening investors’ confidence.
Speaking on the occasion, the ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia comprehensively highlighted the issues faced by businesses in their dealings with different government departments and stressed the need for their early resolution. He emphasized that investors and entrepreneurs should be treated as partners in national economic development rather than subjected to unnecessary procedural complications, undue scrutiny or harassment.
He further underscored that a transparent, predictable and supportive regulatory environment was essential to attracting domestic and foreign investment, expanding industrial activity and generating employment opportunities. He called for stronger coordination among NAB, relevant government departments and business representative bodies to protect genuine business activities while ensuring that accountability mechanisms remain focused on corruption and deliberate violations of the law.
The participants agreed on the importance of strengthening institutional cooperation and developing practical measures to facilitate legitimate businesses, address investors’ concerns and remove impediments to economic activity.
