Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally proposed technical assistance to Pakistan's federal government on Monday to help digitise commercial processes. The proposal was presented during a high-level conference in Lahore, which could establish a fresh approach for nationwide ease-of-doing-business reforms.
What Happened at the Meeting
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz delivered the technical assistance offer to the federal administration so business procedures could be digitised, while a specialised committee headed by Prime Minister's Adviser on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan met with her to discuss reforms designed to enhance the ease of doing business.
The gathering also included Prime Minister's Coordinator on Commerce Ehsan Afzal Khan, and evaluated steps to encourage investment, assist enterprises, and speed up industrial expansion.
The federal reform committee commended the Punjab government for its efforts to draw investment and better the commercial climate. Haroon Akhtar Khan stated that Punjab had already put into practice several committee-recommended measures to support businesses and foster industry.
Punjab's Business Digitisation Tools in Numbers
The province has developed a digital governance infrastructure, and the figures reflect substantial reach.
The provincial eBiz platform delivers 437 services across 28 departments through a single-window framework, handling more than 210,000 applications. This enables a business owner in Lahore or Faisalabad to manage permits, licences, and approvals from a single location instead of traveling to multiple government buildings.
Through the Maryam Ki Dastak initiative, 4.5 million digital service deliveries to citizens have finished, reducing extensive paperwork requirements down to a few critical documents.
Regarding financing, the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme distributed Rs70 billion in interest-free loans to aid 112,000 businesses, offering direct support to small merchants and entrepreneurs who previously depended on expensive informal loans.
The Punjab Information Technology Board anchors this digital network. Over 6,000 systems across the province linked with the central PITB system, while 600 organisations connected digitally via e-FOAS. More than 25,000 suppliers connected to the province-wide e-Procurement network, processing digital purchases valued at Rs6 trillion alongside 1.29 million tenders.
Why the Federal Government Needs This Help
The federal government maintains its own digital economy strategies. The Connected Punjab Program operates alongside national digital objectives, with federal investments flowing into the Digital Economy Enhancement Project.
Implementing changes at the federal level presents more hurdles than at the provincial level. Punjab benefits from a dedicated technology agency, years of development, and a single province to test new concepts before a wider rollout. Sharing this system with the Centre could reduce years of trial work into months.
The World Bank cleared a $70 million Connected Punjab Program in June 2026 to assist the province in broadening broadband access, upgrading digital service delivery, and increasing cashless payments.
Industrialisation and Skills Are Part of the Plan Too
Business digitisation was not the sole topic addressed at the conference. Maryam Nawaz noted that industrialisation serves as the quickest path to economic expansion and emphasised strengthening local industries to create jobs.
The provincial administration is overhauling skills training initiatives through a unified structure, with sector-specific training producing favourable outcomes. Cluster mapping finished, and plans are underway to build hubs for cottage industries. The administration also promotes livestock farming to boost meat exports and urges young people to launch businesses via the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme.
The chief minister mentioned that Punjab is widening its tax base and raising revenue collection without introducing new taxes, using digitisation to pull more businesses into the formal economy.
A Model Other Provinces Could Copy
Should the federal government accept the offer from Punjab, the resulting system could serve as a model for Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
For entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprise owners, this partnership means reduced paperwork, fewer office visits, and quicker approvals. The eBiz single-window system and Asaan Karobar loans offer practical tools for small manufacturers in Sialkot or garment workshops in Karachi to formalise operations and borrow at lower rates.
Pakistan's economic reform progress gains momentum at the provincial level, with Punjab steering the transition. Integrating the Centre into the PITB infrastructure could improve national ease-of-doing-business standings efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab offer the federal government on 27 October 2026?
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally offered technical assistance to help the federal government carry out business digitisation, sharing tools like the eBiz single-window platform and expertise from the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
What is Punjab's eBiz platform?
Punjab's eBiz platform provides 437 services through 28 departments under a single-window system, and more than 210,000 applications were being processed through it. It lets business owners handle permits, licences and approvals without visiting multiple government offices.
How much money has Punjab given to small businesses so far?
The Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme had provided Rs70 billion in interest-free loans, supporting 112,000 businesses. The scheme is part of Punjab's broader strategy to grow the formal economy and help young entrepreneurs start up without heavy debt.
How does this affect businesses in other provinces?
If the federal government adopts Punjab's business digitisation model, it could be rolled out as a national framework. That would mean businesses in Sindh, KP and Balochistan could eventually access similar single-window services, faster approvals and digital loan schemes without each province building its own system from zero.
