Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has urged Pakistan’s industries to prepare five-year export plans and shift their focus from discussions to concrete action, saying the country has “no other choice” but to increase exports.
Speaking at a Planning Commission policy dialogue on Pakistan’s automotive industry, Ahsan Iqbal said export-led growth is the cornerstone of the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative and essential for achieving long-term economic stability.
“Pakistan needs dollars and sustainable foreign exchange earnings. We have no other choice; we must increase exports,” the minister said.
Ahsan Iqbal reiterated the government’s ambition to raise Pakistan’s exports to $100 billion, stressing that the country cannot rely on borrowing and short-term economic measures to achieve sustainable growth.
He said Pakistan must transform from a domestic market-driven economy into a globally competitive export-oriented economy by improving productivity, adopting modern technologies and strengthening industrial infrastructure.
Highlighting the automotive sector, the minister said the upcoming Auto Policy 2.0 is expected to help local manufacturers integrate into global supply chains and expand exports.
He also called for a district-level export development plan to identify regional industrial strengths and develop competitive export clusters across the country.
The policy dialogue brought together government officials, industry representatives, academics and development partners to discuss ways to improve Pakistan’s automotive exports and support the country’s broader export targets under URAAN Pakistan.
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