Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has asserted that Pakistan remains committed to its economic development goals despite recent regional tensions. In a meeting held in Islamabad, Iqbal emphasized that no external force could derail Pakistan from its core agenda of economic growth.
The minister chaired a session focused on aligning sectoral priorities with the URAAN Pakistan initiative, attended by key figures including Chief Economist Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed and Project Director Ms. Irma Malik. Iqbal praised the Pakistan Air Force for its decisive response to recent Indian aggression, downing five jets and reinforcing national defense capabilities.
While acknowledging the military’s strong stance, Iqbal stressed the importance of economic strength for true national security. He urged the nation to break away from “business as usual” to achieve development goals and highlighted the need for a future-oriented approach.
Reflecting on past economic plans, Iqbal noted that previous initiatives like Vision 2010 and Vision 2025 fell short due to lack of continuity and political stability. He called for a modernized development model, aligned with global advances in artificial intelligence and technology.
Iqbal emphasized that URAAN Pakistan aims to transform the economy, potentially reaching a $1 trillion valuation by 2025. He warned that maintaining the current pace could cap growth at $500 billion by 2035.
The minister called for institutional transformation across sectors, underscoring the importance of inclusive growth through exports and job creation. He highlighted the need for skills training and workforce development to meet evolving industrial demands.
Iqbal also emphasized digitalization as a key pillar of the transformation strategy, advocating for the development of digital ecosystems in fintech, agritech, and greentech. He outlined plans to position Pakistan as a regional IT hub, focusing on artificial intelligence, digital finance, and climate-smart planning.
The meeting also discussed enhanced stakeholder coordination and targeted policy interventions. Authorities were directed to align projects with URAAN Pakistan’s strategic goals and conduct quarterly reviews to assess progress.
Project Director Ms. Irma Malik discussed the agenda, focusing on sectoral policy alignment and the development of high-productivity transformation plans. The meeting aimed to ensure alignment of development plans with URAAN goals and identify high-impact projects.
The session concluded with a call for improved coordination mechanisms and stakeholder engagement to effectively implement the URAAN Pakistan programme.