Showing a firm stand, often punctuated with more warnings and less incentives, for months, now the government is trying to understand hard realities about businessmen’s problems and has taken a step to alleviate their concerns. Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised to address the concerns of the business community on a priority basis. He met a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Automotive Parts Association during his visit to Karachi on Wednesday. It appears to be a bit late to speak to the community which has been on strike since the inception of the new fiscal year across the country. In fact, the government should have held a series of consultations with business people to convey them the tough economic challenges the government has been facing with since its inception in 2018. The business community would have pleaded its case too, and at the end of the day, both sides would have agreed to a middle path. The prime minister should be appreciated for reaching out to the community along with his entire economic team. He told the delegation that the government wanted to support businessmen and was serious in resolving their issues. The core point of his speech is that the government sees the business community as a ‘partner’. This approach should entail initiating a new model of governance wherein business people get a competitive environment and less bureaucratic hiccups. Once the government takes a step, the business community should also reciprocate by being open to tax reforms. Tax theft is an ugly fact, not only in Pakistan but all over the world. The business people over here should be receptive about the rounds of reforms the government is going to take up in the current fiscal year. The revenue collection target is huge, which can only be achieved by showing more carrots and a few sticks to the business circles. The pains of economy are going to lessen in the coming days as the government has received the first tranche of $991.4 million of the $6 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund. With more foreign reserves in hand, the government will ooze confidence while dealing with the protesting business people. Once the government and the business sector work as partners, more revenue will be in circulation, hence more jobs and more development opportunities. Practical measures will turn Pakistan into a business-friendly country, and attract ventures from abroad too. *