Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) introduced its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2026-2035 in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, in Islamabad. This strategic dialogue aims to chart a path toward sustainable growth and resilience in Pakistan. The session included key officials such as Secretary Planning Commission Awaise Manzur Sumra, Chief Economist Dr. Imtiaz, Vice Chancellor PIDE Dr. Nadeem Javed, and a delegation from ADB led by Country Director Emma Fan.
Emma Fan outlined the new CPS, which deviates from the typical five-year plans by proposing a 10-year framework. This extended period is intended to provide stability and continuity in addressing long-term economic challenges. The strategy is designed to align ADB’s efforts with Pakistan’s national development goals and socio-economic priorities, focusing on economic growth, development partner coordination, and project effectiveness.
Minister Iqbal emphasized the critical need for export-led growth, noting that 70% of Pakistan’s economic future relies on increasing exports. He called for tripling export volumes over the next decade and urged ADB to align its strategy with the government’s 5Es framework: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity. He highlighted the URAAN Pakistan programme as a blueprint for development, with eight priority sectors including agriculture, industry, and IT.
Acknowledging ADB’s role as a consistent development partner, Minister Iqbal expressed optimism about achieving a trillion-dollar economy. He stressed the importance of peace, political stability, policy continuity, and institutional adaptability in fostering sustainable growth. Referring to a 2017 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, he reiterated Pakistan’s potential to rank among the world’s top 20 economies by 2030, contingent on maintaining its growth trajectory.
Minister Iqbal concluded by emphasizing the need for data-driven strategies and evidence-based policymaking to enhance Pakistan’s export performance. He called on ADB for targeted research and technical assistance to support these objectives.