Auto sector urged to lead Pakistan’s $63bn export ambitions

August 13, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's automotive sector must pivot from serving the domestic market to becoming a major contributor to the country's export earnings, with the industry expected to play a key role in achieving the $63bn export target set under URAAN Pakistan, the Planning Commission said at a policy dialogue titled "Unlocking Pakistan's High-Value Export Potential: Threats and Opportunities for the Automotive Industry."

The session was jointly chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan.

It brought together private sector stakeholders, academics, senior government officials and international development partners to discuss measures to enhance automotive exports.

Speaking at the session, Ahsan Iqbal said export-led growth was the foremost component of URAAN Pakistan and should be treated as a national priority rather than merely an economic objective, adding that the country could no longer afford to remain focused primarily on its domestic market, according to the press release.

He said the target of raising Pakistan's exports to $100bn required a fundamental shift in the country's approach to industry, investment, infrastructure and economic policy.

Pakistan already possessed industrial clusters and productive capacities that could be developed further, he said, but stressed the need to modernize these clusters, improve productivity, strengthen infrastructure, adopt new technologies and create an enabling policy environment.

He expressed confidence that the new Auto Policy 2.0, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, would help reorient Pakistan's automotive industry and facilitate its integration into global markets.

Ahsan Iqbal said sustainable economic strength could not be achieved through borrowing and short-term measures, and that Pakistan needed dollars, which could only come through a stronger and more diversified export base.

He called on the private sector, including exporters, manufacturers and investors, to take the lead in driving the export agenda, and urged stronger government-private sector collaboration to identify new export opportunities, remove bottlenecks and set clear priorities for export-oriented growth.

He also urged chambers of commerce and industry to encourage investors to explore export missions and develop sector-specific strategies for accessing international markets.

Industry stakeholders were called upon to formulate five-year export plans identifying each sector's potential contribution to exports and the government support required to meet those targets.

Ahsan Iqbal also called for a comprehensive district-level export development plan covering all regions and sectors, with particular focus on areas where existing industrial capacities could be transformed into globally competitive export clusters.

Participants at the dialogue discussed challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan's automotive export sector, including competitiveness, investment, productivity, technology, infrastructure, market access and policy facilitation.

The dialogue was part of a consultative series organized by the Planning Commission aimed at promoting Pakistan's high-value export sectors and clusters.

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