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KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the government plans to deregulate and liberalize the sugar and wheat sectors, stressing that the state must withdraw from the entire value chain to promote market efficiency.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking at an event hosted by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the finance minister reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and strategic partnerships aimed at reshaping Pakistan\u2019s economic direction.<\/p>\n He said that the government is going to deregulate sugar and wheat prices, emphasising that the deregulation process would be end-to-end.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not possible to deregulate one element of the value chain while maintaining control over another,\u201d Aurangzeb said. \u201cThe government has to get out of the entire value chain \u2014 that\u2019s the direction we are heading in.\u201d<\/p>\n He described current geopolitical tailwinds as a \u201cgolden opportunity\u201d for Pakistan\u2019s economic stability, citing strong support from partners including China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n \u201cAll these countries have supported us, and now discussions with them focus on trade and investment flows led by the private sector \u2014 not the government,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Referring to recent discussions during visits to the United States and Saudi Arabia, Aurangzeb said talks centered on promoting private-sector-led growth to make an economically independent Pakistan.<\/p>\n The finance minister said that the government\u2019s role is to create an enabling ecosystem for the private sector to drive economic growth.<\/p>\n Responding to a question, he attributed the recent increase in tomato prices to the temporary closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which disrupted supply chains.<\/p>\n