PM Shehbaz Orders Urgent Overhaul of National Tariff Commission
ISLAMABAD – July 11: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a comprehensive restructuring of the National Tariff Commission (NTC) to strengthen its legal, administrative, and institutional framework in line with modern economic needs.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, the Prime Minister emphasized that the NTC must evolve to meet the demands of a new tariff regime and to ensure a fair and competitive market for local industries.
To enhance the commission’s effectiveness, Shehbaz Sharif directed a third-party audit of the NTC’s recent performance, aimed at identifying areas for reform and capacity-building.
“The NTC must be equipped to gather ground realities related to domestic business, imports, exports, and market dynamics,” the Prime Minister said, stressing the importance of evidence-based policy formulation.
Highlighting the commission’s role in supporting the business community, Shehbaz Sharif underlined the need to develop autonomous research capacity within the NTC. He noted that timely and reliable market analysis would be crucial in resolving trade-related challenges.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the commission’s resource and training gaps, vowing to align NTC operations with global standards and modern tools.
As part of the reform package, Shehbaz Sharif instructed that the NTC’s Appellate Tribunal be made operational without delay, enabling businesses to access fair hearings and swift resolution of tariff disputes.
The move is seen as a key step toward revitalizing Pakistan’s trade policy infrastructure and promoting investor confidence by improving institutional performance and transparency.
