Prime Minister Imran Khan directed provincial governments on Monday to do away with requirement of 74 licenses to start business activities to facilitate the small businesses within three days.

While chairing a meeting of licenses regime in the provinces, the Prime Minister also directed that system of more than 150 licenses required at district level for starting business activities should also be done away with and process for required licenses should be made easier and an automated system should be adopted by using the latest technology.

The Prime Minister was informed that over 150 kinds of different licenses are required in the existing system in different metropolitan corporations, municipal corporations, town committees and other departments for business and this system is replete with corruption and common complaint is of harassment by the small businesses.

The Prime Minister expressed concern over complicated license system and directed that 74 licenses which create problem for general stores, cloth shops and naan shops should be immediately done away with.

The Prime Minister also directed that in businesses where inspection is required, latest technology should be used to make it easier and corruption and harassment must be brought to an end. He said that process to remove the unnecessary licenses should be completed within three days.-ZAHEER ABBASI