Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has declared that exports are a matter of “life and death” for Pakistan, saying the country cannot achieve sustainable growth by relying on debt.
“Stabilization will only be true stabilization when it is not on the back of debt. Only exports can give us the legs to grow,” the minister said.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Yingming Yang in Islamabad on September 3, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s economic stabilization would only be meaningful if it was supported by stronger exports.
He called for ADB’s technical assistance and international expertise to help Pakistan develop a strategic roadmap for expanding and diversifying its exports.
The meeting focused on ADB’s ongoing support for Pakistan’s development agenda under the URAAN Pakistan framework.
Ahsan Iqbal Wants ADB Help to Boost Exports
Ahsan Iqbal asked ADB to support Pakistan in developing an export strategy, similar to the technical assistance provided by the bank during the Vision 2010 initiative.
He said the government aims to transform Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035 and highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to removing structural barriers to economic growth.
The minister said reforms are needed across key sectors, including industry, food security, commerce, and foreign affairs, while economic diplomacy should also be used to expand international trade.
He also described Pakistan’s economic progress between 2022 and 2026 as a potential case study for other developing economies.
Climate
The meeting also covered climate adaptation and water security as Pakistan faces increasingly severe and unpredictable rainfall.
Ahsan Iqbal urged the ADB to help develop localized water management infrastructure, including small dams, reservoirs, and retention ponds.
He said such infrastructure could help store rainwater, reduce pressure on cities, support agriculture, and improve Pakistan’s water security.
The minister also highlighted the challenge of sudden transboundary water inflows.
ADB Asked to Help Protect Gilgit-Baltistan
Ahsan Iqbal also sought ADB’s technical assistance to develop a sustainable tourism management framework for Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said the region’s fragile environment needs to be protected as the number of tourists continues to increase.
During the meeting, Yingming Yang invited Ahsan Iqbal to lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 25th CAREC Ministerial Conference, scheduled for September 29–30, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The minister accepted the invitation.
The ADB vice president reaffirmed the bank’s support for Pakistan’s priorities under URAAN Pakistan, including institution building, climate resilience, and long-term sustainable economic growth.
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