PM Shehbaz Invites Industry Leaders to Shape Pakistan’s Export Strategy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed that Pakistan's long-term economic prosperity depends on export-led growth, urging industrialists and business leaders to share practical recommendations for increasing the country's exports.
Addressing a meeting with prominent representatives of the business community, the prime minister stressed that sustainable economic progress can only be achieved by expanding exports.
"The growth we seek must be export-led. Any other model of growth holds little value for Pakistan's future," he said.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, PM Shehbaz noted that the meeting was held at the start of the new fiscal quarter to gather industry feedback on ways to boost exports, identify challenges, and develop effective solutions.
The premier said the government was open to introducing targeted incentives, including tax relief measures, to encourage exporters and strengthen Pakistan's competitiveness in international markets.
Recalling the preparation of the federal budget presented in June, PM Shehbaz said the government held extensive consultations with the private sector, resulting in key structural reforms implemented over the past two-and-a-half years.
He credited the joint efforts of the government and business community for improving economic management, adding that stronger enforcement measures enabled authorities to recover nearly Rs800 billion in additional revenue within a year without imposing new taxes.
Describing the progress as a result of teamwork, the prime minister said Pakistan is now prepared to move towards sustainable economic growth with continued support from the private sector.
The government's emphasis on exports has remained consistent in recent months. Earlier, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that Pakistan aims to diversify both its export products and destination markets to achieve a sustainable economic growth rate of six percent.
Similarly, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb recently said the government's priority is to build an economy driven by private-sector investment and exports, ensuring that the country's transition from economic stabilisation leads to long-term, sustainable growth.
Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz also welcomed the launch of a new export insurance facility jointly introduced by the Export Development Fund (EDF) and the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan. The initiative includes a Rs3 billion risk pool designed to improve export credit insurance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to expand exports and contribute more effectively to Pakistan's economy.
The prime minister described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening SMEs, increasing export volumes, and supporting the country's broader economic development.
