High cost of doing business: Exporters unable to match regional competitors

Pakistan’s business community is facing a serious competitiveness crisis as the cost of doing business in Pakistan is 34 percent higher compared to regional countries, which has severely undermined the ability of local industries to compete in international markets, stated Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad. He said that due to irrational taxation, excessive energy costs, and currency instability, Pakistan’s exporters are unable to match regional competitors, resulting in stagnant exports since 2022 despite global trade recovery in several sectors. In the present scenario, Pakistani businesses are struggling to survive, let alone expand exports, as their cost structures remain misaligned with regional economies such as Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam.