ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that Pakistan will prioritise support for small and medium enterprises, research and development, and innovation to boost exports, as the government reviewed its export growth strategy.
Export-Led Industry ‘Indispensable’
Chairing a meeting on national exports, Sharif said export-led industry was “indispensable” for national development and stressed that targeted facilitation of industries was a key government priority. He directed officials to prepare a roadmap for providing government support to small and medium-sized businesses linked to export growth, and to design a strategy to promote new industries contributing to exports.
The prime minister said investment in research, development and innovation would help make domestic products more competitive in global markets. He emphasized that without continuous upgrading of products and processes, Pakistani exports would struggle to capture higher-value market segments.
Timely Tax Refunds for Exporters
Sharif also directed authorities to ensure timely payment of tax refunds to exporters—a long-standing demand of the business community. Delays in refund disbursement have frequently been cited by exporters as a major hurdle to liquidity and operational efficiency.
The meeting reviewed a draft export growth strategy, with officials presenting a detailed briefing and participants sharing recommendations on policy measures. The discussion comes as Pakistan seeks to stabilise its external accounts and expand its export base amid ongoing economic pressures.
High-Level Attendance
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, and other senior cabinet members. The government has set ambitious export targets for the coming fiscal year, with a focus on diversifying beyond traditional sectors such as textiles into IT, agriculture processing, and engineering goods.
Analysts view the prime minister’s emphasis on SMEs and innovation as a recognition that sustainable export growth requires broadening the base of exporters and moving up the value chain. Implementation of the roadmap will be closely watched by the business community.
