ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday, chaired a pivotal meeting of the National Export Development Board, where he set an ambitious target for Pakistan to achieve $60 billion in annual exports within the next three years.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for the commerce ministry and other relevant departments to implement all necessary measures to meet this target. He noted that the country’s exports had surpassed the $30 billion mark in the previous fiscal year, while IT exports had also reached over $3.2 billion, thanks to the government’s progressive policies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz tasked the ministry with resolving the issues highlighted by exporters and requested a detailed report within two weeks. He announced his commitment to personally chair the National Export Development Board meeting every six weeks to ensure continuous progress.
In his address, the Prime Minister called for collective efforts to drive the country’s development and lauded the business community and investors for their resilience in boosting exports despite challenging conditions. He urged the commerce ministry to finalize policy proposals in collaboration with representatives from potential export sectors. Furthermore, he instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to enhance extension services in coordination with provincial governments to boost agricultural exports.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of exporting quality seeds and processed agricultural products and called for measures to introduce high-yield crop varieties. He stressed the need to reduce the delivery time of Pakistani goods to Europe and America by promptly addressing shipping-related issues. Additionally, he directed the commerce ministry and the Board of Investment to facilitate the transfer of Chinese export industries to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also underscored the significance of research and development, innovation, and brand development to enhance the export potential of Pakistani goods. He warned the Federal Board of Revenue against any delays in issuing refunds to exporters and emphasized the role of trade officers in Pakistan’s missions abroad in promoting exports and guiding exporters.
The Prime Minister tasked the power ministry with presenting a comprehensive plan to provide low-cost electricity to industries. Highlighting the crucial role of the private sector in national development, he advocated for its inclusion in the policymaking process.
Representatives of the export sector expressed their appreciation for the Prime Minister’s frequent engagement to address their concerns and his keen interest in the export sector, describing it as “very encouraging.” They particularly commended his initiative to ensure timely refunds by the FBR to the export industry.
The meeting included briefings on the steps taken to uplift the export sector. It was revealed that the country’s exports had indeed crossed the $30 billion mark this year, and a five-year plan to double exports was also presented.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Sardar Awais Leghari, and Dr. Musaddiq Malik. Ministers of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khwaja, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Jahanzaib Khan, the Governor of the State Bank, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, relevant FBR officers, and representatives from the textiles, IT, leather, agriculture, and other sectors were also in attendance.
