BRUSSELS / ISLAMABAD, (Unib Rashid) — Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has unveiled a strategy to increase Pakistan’s exports to $100 billion, emphasizing the development of industrial clusters across eight key sectors under the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative and stronger integration into global supply chains.

He said Pakistan’s economic sovereignty depended on its ability to generate the resources required for its own development and build a sustainable, competitive economy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 39th Annual Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the federal minister outlined the vision behind the “Mission $100 Billion.”

“How can we build a Pakistan that earns its own prosperity, generates the resources needed for its development, and determines its own economic destiny? Our answer is Mission $100 Billion,” he said.

Highlighting the gap between Pakistan’s export performance and that of comparable economies, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s merchandise exports stood at approximately $32.3 billion in 2024. In comparison, Bangladesh recorded exports of $47.2 billion, while Malaysia and Vietnam reported $330.4 billion and $404.8 billion, respectively. He clarified that these figures did not include services exports.

The minister said Pakistan could overcome recurring external payment pressures by maintaining economic stability, strengthening productive capacity and improving its competitiveness in international markets.

He stressed the need to establish export-oriented clusters that connect businesses with specialized suppliers, skilled workers, universities, research laboratories, financial resources, transport facilities and international buyers.

“Build clusters, strengthen production chains and connect them to the world,” he said.

According to the minister, the proposed strategy will cover eight sectors: agriculture, industry and manufacturing, services, information technology, mining, manpower and skills development, the blue economy, and creative industries.

He emphasized that cluster development should begin with an understanding of buyers’ requirements. Investment, workforce training, infrastructure and quality standards should then be aligned with opportunities identified in target markets.

Ahsan Iqbal said stronger integration into global supply chains would enhance the capabilities of domestic suppliers, increase the value added to locally produced goods and create better employment opportunities.

He also highlighted the potential of the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly in linking infrastructure development and Special Economic Zones with export-oriented production.

The federal minister invited PIDE and participants at the conference to develop practical roadmaps for the growth of industrial clusters and production chains. He said these plans should clearly identify priority products, target markets, capacity gaps, responsible institutions, estimated costs and implementation timelines.

He welcomed independent research that could test government assumptions, challenge existing approaches and help improve economic policymaking.

Emphasizing the human impact of the initiative, Ahsan Iqbal said the ultimate measure of success would be improvements in the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Pakistanis.

“The real measure of this mission’s success will be how many Pakistanis benefit from improvements in the country’s productive capacity and competitiveness,” he said.

The proposed Mission $100 Billion aims to strengthen Pakistan’s export potential by connecting domestic production with international markets, developing sector-specific clusters and creating sustainable opportunities for economic growth and employment.