Overview
- Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal set goals to raise exports to $60 billion within four years and to $100 billion over a decade to reduce bailout dependence.
- The government plans an export emergency featuring faster tax refunds for exporters and the removal of structural bottlenecks to improve competitiveness.
- Iqbal warned that failure to lift exports would force Pakistan to seek help from friendly countries or return to the IMF, which provided a $7 billion programme in 2024.
- The Planning Ministry says the newly formed committee led by Ishaq Dar is finalising an action plan for submission to the prime minister next week.
- Recent figures cited by local media show merchandise exports fell more than 20% in December 2025 and the half-year trade deficit widened over 34%, underscoring the urgency of reforms.