Various Government departments and organizations at the Federal & Provincial levels have undertaken reforms proactively on their own or as part of a bigger initiative such as Ease of Doing Business / PRMI. This page will be tracking and recording all reforms undertaken since September 2019 across all tiers for facilitating the business sector.
In case some reforms which have been completed but not mentioned here, please contact us so that we can also show it on this page.
activity_id
Department
Jurisdiction
Month
Year
Reform Name
Evidence
1
State Bank of Pakistan
National
December
2020
State Bank removes the condition of filling the Form-E for small exporters.
2
Government of Sindh
Sindh
December
2020
Sindh e-Stamp Rules, 2020 for the Payment of Stamp Duty notified
3
Sindh Building Control Authority
Sindh
November
2020
SBCA Complaints Android App Launched
4
State Bank of Pakistan
National
November
2020
Governor SBP launches Digitization of FX Regulatory Approvals
5
State Bank of Pakistan
National
December
2020
SBP issues Regulatory Framework to Facilitate Business To Consumer (B2C) E-Commerce Exports
6
State Bank of Pakistan
National
November
2020
SBP introduces a transparent mechanism with complete delegation to banks for remitting disinvestment proceeds to facilitate foreign direct investment
7
Sindh Building Control Authority
Sindh
November
2020
Sindh Building Control Authority fast tracks construction permits for projects under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme.
8
Sindh Building Control Authority
Sindh
September
2020
SBCA starts issuing QR Codes with Construction permits from 1st September, 2020 to differentiate legal construction activity from the illegal construction
9
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan
National
November
2020
DRAP launches online application Management System to ensure accountability, quality and transparency
10
Punjab IT Board
Punjab
November
2020
PITB signs two separate MoUs with the Board of Revenue (BOR) and Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), PITB will help the departments in initiating a number of their services, including Registry and Mutation at e-Khidmat Markaz across Punjab
11
SESSI
Sindh
November
2020
SESSI issues directions for E-Payment of Employer’s Contributions and discontinuation of Manual Cheques and Manual Receipt Book
12
State Bank of Pakistan
National
November
2020
State Bank of Pakistan reduces the time period for write off loans from 15 years to 10 years to facilitate the corporate sector to improve its credit history
13
Government of Punjab
Punjab
July
2020
The Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Act 2020 passed to increase validity of certain licenses from one year to twenty one months
14
Federal Board of Revenue
National
December
2020
FBR allows taxpayers file appeals electronically
15
Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan
National
October
2020
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) grants approval to the first technology-based crowd funding platform for commencement of live testing and experimentation under first cohort of its technology-driven initiative & Regulatory Sandbox
16
Lahore Development Authority
Punjab
October
2020
LDA allows setting up of area development projects for constructing commercial plazas on pieces of land measuring 24 kanals or more located on 60 feet wide roads.
17
Lahore Development Authority
Punjab
October
2020
LDA approves LDA land use rules and regulations 2020.
18
Lahore Development Authority
Punjab
October
2020
LDA establishes e-Khidmat Markaz to provide WASA, TEPA, Town Planning and Metropolitan Planning services online
19
Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan
National
December
2020
SECP Launches online facility for investors to open online accounts in capital markets
20
Federal Board of Revenue
National
November
2020
Single page simplified Income Tax Return for SMEs having turnover up to Rs.50 Million launched by FBR
21
Pakistan Stock Exchange
National
November
2020
Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has launched a startup-dedicated board to help small and medium companies raise funds through listing on the capital market
22
Government of Punjab
Punjab
September
2019
Alternative Dispute Resolution will allow parties in a dispute resolve their problems with mutual consent without going through procedures involving litigation.
23
Directorate of Mineral
Gilgit-Baltistan
November
2019
GB Mining Concession Rules, 2016 amended through SRO 1435(I)/2019 to allow more private sector investment through a streamlined process of license applications
24
Council of Common Interests
National
January
2020
CCI chooses to implement uniform food standards across the country.
25
Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division)
National
January
2020
Approximately 18 rules dealing with approvals, extensions, renewals, revocations and other ancillary matters covered under the Pakistan Onshore Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Rules, 2013 amended to allow investments in upstream petroleum sector by private companies
26
The Local Government and Community Development Department
Punjab
October
2020
The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to abolish the local governments licensing fee for professionals and approved necessary amendments to Punjab Local Government Act 2019 for bringing necessary changes in licensing regime to ensure ease of doing business
27
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Land Registration Tax Reduced to 2% from 6%
28
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Capital Value Tax abolished
29
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
KP
October
2020
Exemption of Local Council Tax on transfer of immovable property till June, 2021
30
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
KP
October
2020
Exemption of registration fee for registration of deeds and mutation till June, 2021
31
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Reduction of Sales Tax on Services for 25 categories reduced from 15% to 2%
32
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Tax rate for restaurants reduced from 8% to 5% when using Point of Sales system
33
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Upto 35% discount on Urban Immovable Property Tax introduced
34
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Bed Tax and Entertainment Tax for Hotels abolished
35
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority
KP
October
2020
Free re-registration of vehicles introduced
36
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
KP
July
2020
Building plan online approval system inaugurated
37
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
KP
December
2019
Online system for contractors launched in K-P to allow contractors to register with the government and will be forward integrated into other e-governance platforms the government is developing
38
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority
National
March
2020
Procedures simplified for obtaining commercial electricity connections by NEPRA
39
Sindh Building Control Authority
Sindh
October
2020
The Sindh Building Control Authority speeds up construction permits for projects under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme. Additionally, the SBCA byelaws have been amended to remove five unscheduled inspections and their corresponding NOCs
40
State Bank of Pakistan
National
September
2020
State Bank of Pakistan amends all rules and regulations to allow non-resident Pakistanis to open bank accounts in Pakistan without establishing physical presence through the The Roshan Digital Account
