ISLAMABAD: Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has been removed as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reforms and excluded from its reconstituted membership under a fresh decision by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan appointed to lead the body.
A Cabinet Division notification dated October 20, 2026, names Jam Kamal Khan as the new chairman and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar as co-chairman. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh does not appear in the newly notified committee composition.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani are also members of the reconstituted committee. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Division will serve as its secretariat.
The notification says the prime minister “has been pleased to reconstitute the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Reform (CCoRR),” superseding the earlier notification issued on April 4, 2025. The order was issued under Rule 17(2) of the Rules of Business, 1973.
The committee’s main responsibility is to review and approve regulatory reforms for implementing the Asaan Karobar Act. Its mandate includes examining existing laws, regulations, procedures, licences and approval requirements that may hinder businesses or discourage investment.
The notification directs the committee to “consider, review, and approve the legislative and regulatory reform (Regulatory Guillotine) process” established under the initiative. It will also approve the initial list of the most problematic regulatory areas to be reviewed for possible reforms.
Recommendations from the Board of Investment to abolish or amend existing requirements will be reviewed by the committee before being forwarded to the federal cabinet for ratification.
The committee will also establish an appeals process to allow ministers to present their objections to reform proposals. Under the notified terms, the relevant minister will have an opportunity to justify a position against a recommendation made by the Board of Investment after the prescribed review process.
The committee will hear the appeals and decide whether to accept or reject the challenged recommendations “based on the evidence.”
Its responsibilities extend to policy decisions intended to accelerate reforms while maintaining compliance with legal provisions. It will also monitor progress on the Asaan Karobar Project and track the completion of agreed targets, including the establishment and operationalisation of a legal registry.
The notification further empowers the committee to assign additional tasks to the Board of Investment relating to improving the business environment and investment climate.
