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The World Bank recently generated its Doing Business 2018 report. Out of 190 countries, Pakistan has been placed at an abysmal 147^th position in the report.

In the past 15 years, Pakistan has carried out a total of 127 business reforms. In 2017, Pakistan has been listed among countries that carried out 20 business reforms, the report observed.

Pakistan has implemented four major business reforms in 2017. The new reforms bring convenience in transferring commercial property, cross border trade and in registering a new business.

Also Read: 5 reasons to invest in Pakistan

Major reforms

With these reforms, the need to obtain a digital signature for company incorporation is replaced with a cheaper alternative i.e. through a personal identification number. This has been initially applied to Karachi and Lahore and its scope will be extended in the future.

Through the second reform, registration of land has been made easier.  All the necessary documents and fee schedules can now be submitted online.

Minority investment protections have been increased as the country made it simpler to sue executives in the event of biased exchanges with other interested individuals. This reform is also applied to Karachi and Lahore at the moment.

With the development of a new container terminal and the enhancement of customs platform for electronic document submission, importing and exporting has also been made easier. In addition, these changes also apply to Karachi and Lahore.

Quick Read: Pakistanis have invested $8 billion in Dubai real estate

Other rankings

Pakistan has been ranked:

• 172^nd in paying taxes
• 171^st in trading across borders
• 141^st in dealing with construction permits
• 82^nd in resolving insolvency
• 167^th in getting electricity
• 20^th in protecting minority investors
• 156^th in enforcing contracts
• 105^th in getting credit
• 170^th in registering property
• 142^nd in starting business
• 147^th in business environment

In South Asia, most of the focus of reforms has been in protecting minority investors. A number of eight economies from South Asia worked on improving investment security for minorities. The changes included guidelines to clear up possession and control structures in Bhutan, encouraging lawful activity against executives if there should arise an occurrence of biased exchanges with individuals in Pakistan, improvement of corporate transparency in Nepal, and upgraded solutions for filing cases of biased exchanges between interested parties in India.

In the top 50 ranking of ease of doing business, South Asia is the only region not included in the rankings. On the other hand, India was ranked among the top 10 economies that enhanced the most in the sectors measured by Doing Business.

Also Read: Pakistan replacing India as investor’s darling

Each of the eight local economies have completed an aggregate of 127 changes. Starting a business, with 25 changes, was the main pointer for regional reforms.

It cost more than 40% of the total value of a claim to authorize an agreement 15 years ago. However, it takes under 30% now as compared to the worldwide normal of 33%. Moreover, Bhutan has made the biggest change here. In the country, it costs 90% of the estimation of a claim to implement an agreement 15 years ago. Now, it takes 23%, putting the nation in the top 25 countries in the region.