Karachi: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal addressed the business community at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), where he officially transferred the co-pilotship of URAAN Pakistan to Karachi’s top industrial and business leaders. He outlined the national strategy aimed at transforming Pakistan into an export-led, trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized Karachi’s strategic role as Pakistan’s financial capital and as a symbol of resilience. He stressed that the private sector should lead the implementation of the national plan, with KCCI playing a pivotal role.
URAAN Pakistan is designed as a transformational roadmap to shift the nation’s economic model from low-value to high-value exports and from fragmented efforts to integrated reforms. The initiative is built on five key pillars: Exports, E-Pakistan (Digital Transformation), Equity and Empowerment, Environment, and Energy and Infrastructure.
Addressing the underperformance of Pakistan’s exports, Iqbal announced the launch of a National Productivity and Quality Initiative. This initiative will focus on factory-level diagnostics, SME technology upgrades, and national-level certification systems, with KCCI as a key partner in Karachi’s industrial clusters.
The Minister also announced plans to establish a Karachi Export Compliance and Innovation Center in partnership with KCCI to help exporters meet emerging global trade challenges, including certifications and digital trade facilitation.
Under the E-Pakistan pillar, the government aims to build a digital economy through Digital Public Infrastructure, the Pakistan Innovation Fund, and training one million youth in skills like AI and cybersecurity. Iqbal invited KCCI to collaborate in designing data-driven solutions for logistics and energy use.
Inclusive growth was another focus, with initiatives to support youth development, women-led microenterprises, and SME access to finance. A KCCI-Planning Ministry SME Innovation Fellowship was proposed to mentor young entrepreneurs.
Iqbal addressed environmental resilience, highlighting Karachi’s vulnerability to climate change. He announced plans for a Green Karachi Business Alliance to promote energy efficiency and carbon reduction in businesses.
On infrastructure and energy, the Minister stressed the need for affordable and reliable power for industrial expansion. He reiterated the goal of achieving a 60% renewable energy mix by 2030 and sought collaboration with KCCI to develop a Karachi Industrial Infrastructure Roadmap.
The Minister highlighted CPEC Phase II as a strategic opportunity focused on industrial productivity, digital connectivity, and green growth. He urged Karachi’s business community to form joint ventures with Chinese and regional firms.
In his concluding remarks, Iqbal proposed establishing a URAAN Pakistan Business Council with KCCI as a founding member to monitor reform implementation and engage regional networks. He called for the business community to triple exports, create two million digital jobs, and formalize one million SMEs.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing that economic progress requires peace, harmony, and policy stability. He noted that political uncertainty hinders economic success and that unity and collective action are essential for Pakistan to reach its full potential.