Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday termed export-led growth the only sustainable path for Pakistan’s economic transformation, urging the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide technical assistance and global best practices for expanding and diversifying the country’s exports.
Exports only way out of existential crisis: Ahsan seeks ADB expertise
ISLAMABAD, Sep 3 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday termed export-led growth the only sustainable path for Pakistan’s economic transformation, urging the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide technical assistance and global best practices for expanding and diversifying the country’s exports.
“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, describing the shift towards export-driven growth as a matter of “life and death” for the country.
He was talking to ADB Vice President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang, who called on him in Islamabad to discuss the bank’s ongoing support for Pakistan’s development agenda under the URAAN Pakistan framework.
Ahsan Iqbal called for ADB’s support in developing a strategic roadmap for export expansion and diversification, drawing on the bank’s technical assistance provided during the preparation of Vision 2010.
He reiterated the government’s ambition to transform Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035, saying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was committed to removing structural bottlenecks, reforming key sectors and promoting economic diplomacy.
The minister said reforms in industry, food security, commerce and foreign affairs were essential to achieving sustainable and export-led economic growth.
Highlighting Pakistan’s economic turnaround from 2022 to 2026 as a case study for developing economies, he also urged the ADB to maintain continuous coordination on development projects to ensure their alignment with national priorities.
The meeting also discussed climate adaptation and water security, with Ahsan Iqbal highlighting the increasing frequency of severe and unseasonal rainfall events in the country.
He urged the ADB to partner with Pakistan in developing localized water-management infrastructure, including small dams, reservoirs and retention ponds, particularly in areas where large volumes of rainwater were currently being drained away.
“We need to seriously consider developing small dams, water reservoirs, and retention ponds to store rainwater,” he said, adding that the stored water could help protect cities, support agriculture and strengthen overall water security.
He also highlighted the challenge posed by sudden transboundary water inflows.
On environmental conservation, the minister sought ADB’s technical expertise to develop a sustainable tourism management framework for Gilgit-Baltistan to protect its fragile ecosystems amid increasing visitor numbers.
During the meeting, the ADB Vice President invited Ahsan Iqbal to lead Pakistan’s national delegation to the 25th CAREC Ministerial Conference, scheduled for September 29-30, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The minister accepted the invitation.
Yingming Yang reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development priorities under URAAN Pakistan, including institution building, climate resilience and long-term sustainable growth.
