Pakistan takes big leap in business index.

ISLAMABAD -- In what appears to be the highest-ever upward shift in a year shown by a country, Pakistan climbed 28 places and rose to the rank of 108 in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index and landed in the club of world's top 10 business climate improvers.

In its report for the year 2020 released on Thursday, the World Bank said the enactment of six regulatory reforms, including a concerted improvement in business regulation, had improved Pakistan's overall ranking that would improve the country's image for attracting investments.

Global investors use the World Bank's index as a guide to learn about the business environment of a country before making any business plan. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan had achieved the biggest improvement in its history in World Bank's ease of doing business rankings. 'Over last decade Pakistan's ranking had slipped more than 50 places. Now we have improved 28 places from 136 to 108,' he added.

He said this was another commitment of his manifesto that was achieved. 'I want to congratulate all the people in our government who worked hard to make this happen. We still have a long way to go. InshaAllah, before the end of 2020 Pakistan will become one of the top places for investment,' he added.

Climbs 28 places to slot of 108 in World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Investment Razak Dawood termed the significant improvement in ranking a move by the present government to provide an environment conducive to foreign investment. He said the government had set ambitious reform targets to achieve 70th and 80th position in the WB ranking over the next couple of years.

The adviser said Pakistan had achieved the first position in the South Asian region in bringing fast reforms, besides having 6th position in top reformers of the world.

Other countries included in the club of top 10 reformers are: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Nigeria, India, China, Bahrain, Tajikistan and Togo. India remained top among South Asian nations at 63, followed by Bhutan at 89, Nepal at 94 and Sri Lanka at 99. The countries which are far behind in the ease of doing business index in South Asia are Bangladesh at 168, Afghanistan at 173 and Maldives at 147.

Mr Dawood said the World Bank report 2020 covered two main cities - Karachi and Lahore, adding that improvement in the ranking was achieved due to coordinated efforts of two provinces - Sindh and Punjab. He said the...