Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to digitalize all operational functions of the National Tariff Commission (NTC) to ensure transparency and quality.

He issued these directives while presiding over a review meeting in Islamabad today on reforms in the National Tariff Commission to improve its performance.

The Prime Minister emphasized that effective performance of National Tariff Commission following its institutional restructuring is vital to boost domestic industrial growth and attract investment in the country.

He also directed to resolve legal and administrative issues of the National Tariff Commission under a comprehensive strategy for promoting industry, trade and investment.

The Prime Minister instructed the National Tariff Commission to facilitate investors and industrialists and take special measures to protect them from legal and other complexities.

Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to study global best practices to align the National Tariff Commission's revamping and performance with international standards.

He also emphasized the need for adopting innovation in the NTC through the use of information technology, artificial intelligence and other modern tools, and ordered to simplify the legal complexities in the National Tariff Commission Appellate Tribunal to further improve its performance.

The Prime Minister said the NTC staff should be imparted training according to international standards, and that the services of professional experts be hired to provide practical guidance on the reformative measures.

He warned that delay in disposal of cases in the National Tariff Commission is unacceptable under any circumstances and directed to establish a system to ensure the disposal of all cases within a specific timeframe.

The Chairman of the National Tariff Commission briefed the participants of the meeting about the legal, administrative, and financial reforms being implemented under the roadmap approved by the Prime Minister.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and other relevant government officials also attended the meeting.