Govt eyes $100bn exports without outlining roadmap

Two federal ministers have forecast that Pakistan’s exports will climb to $100 billion from $30bn in the next few years without outlining the pathway for achieving a three-fold increase in export proceeds. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan painted a rosy export outlook on Tuesday while speaking at a dialogue on the Governance Innovation Lab on the ‘Export-Led Economy’ theme. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) disputed the proposed export target figure surfaced in its first assessment during the caretaker government under the $3bn Standby Arrangement, projecting a maximum export of $39.46bn in FY28. Mr Ahsan said Pakistan has immense potential in information technology, mining, blue economy, creative industries, and other sectors. He also said the private sector has a pivotal role in the government’s efforts for economic development.