Islamabad: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, addressed a delegation from Harvard Business School, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to transition from economic stabilization to sustained growth. He underscored the importance of innovation, productivity, and exports in achieving this transformation.

According to Press Information Department, Prof. Iqbal highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s large youth population, strategic location, and resources as foundational elements for long-term economic growth. He stressed the necessity of moving beyond the cycle of economic stabilization to a model focused on productivity and exports. The Minister introduced URAAN Pakistan, a national transformation framework aimed at fostering exports, enterprise, digital economy, and energy infrastructure among other sectors.

Prof. Iqbal projected that Pakistan could become a $1 trillion economy by 2035, contingent on its ability to develop competitive production and export capabilities. He emphasized the critical role of human capital, advocating for investments in education, healthcare, and skills development to harness the potential of the country’s young demographic.

The Minister also addressed the impacts of climate change, linking it to fiscal stability and food security, and discussed the evolving role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in industrial cooperation and technology transfer. Prof. Iqbal concluded by inviting the Harvard students to engage with Pakistan as investors and entrepreneurs, viewing the country’s challenges as opportunities for growth and development.