Islamabad, July 10, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed a comprehensive restructuring of the National Tariff Commission (NTC) to enhance its institutional capabilities and ensure alignment with Pakistan’s evolving economic priorities.
The directive aims to improve the NTC’s legal, administrative, and operational framework to meet the demands of the modern tariff environment.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the commission’s performance, Shehbaz emphasized the urgent need for a third-party evaluation of the NTC’s recent work. He underscored that the commission must be restructured along contemporary lines to better serve the national interest under the new tariff regime. The restructuring, according to Shehbaz, is essential to ensure that Pakistan’s tariff policies support domestic industries, facilitate exports, and address import-related challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted that the NTC must remain aware of on-the-ground realities faced by local businesses and industries. He pointed out that a technologically equipped and data-driven NTC could offer vital support in resolving longstanding issues affecting domestic production and trade. The prime minister linked this reform directly with the broader government vision of enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness through smart and targeted tariff measures.
To address institutional weaknesses, Shehbaz directed that the NTC’s human resource capacity, especially training and research capabilities, be modernized without delay. He reiterated that the government stands committed to removing any operational bottlenecks facing the NTC and aligning it with international best practices in tariff regulation and trade facilitation.
A key decision taken during the meeting was the immediate activation of the NTC’s Appellate Tribunal. Shehbaz also called for a detailed progress report on the implementation of these directives to be presented next month.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Dr. Musadik Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Ali Pervez Malik, and other senior officials. The renewed focus on tariff policy underlines the Shehbaz-led government’s drive to foster sustainable industrial growth and ensure that the tariff regime serves as an engine of economic development.
This marks the fifth time in recent weeks that Shehbaz has emphasized reform in tariff structures, reinforcing his administration’s economic reform agenda.