Pakistan seeks ADB roadmap for export-led growth

September 03, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan has urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide technical assistance and international best practices to help expand and diversify the country’s exports, with export-led growth described as the only sustainable route to economic transformation.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said true economic stabilization could only be achieved through exports rather than debt, calling the transition towards an export-driven economy a matter of “life and death” for Pakistan.

He made these remarks during a meeting with ADB Vice President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang in Islamabad, where the bank’s ongoing support for Pakistan’s development agenda under the URAAN Pakistan framework was discussed, according to APP.

The minister sought ADB assistance in preparing a strategic roadmap for export expansion and diversification, referring to the bank’s technical support during the preparation of Vision 2010.

Iqbal reiterated the government’s goal of transforming Pakistan into a $1tr economy by 2035. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was committed to addressing structural bottlenecks, reforming key sectors and advancing economic diplomacy.

He emphasized that reforms in industry, food security, commerce and foreign affairs were necessary to achieve sustainable, export-led economic growth.

The minister also highlighted Pakistan’s economic turnaround from 2022 to 2026 as a case study for developing economies and called for continued coordination with the ADB on development projects to ensure their alignment with national priorities.

Climate adaptation and water security also came under discussion. Iqbal highlighted the growing frequency of severe and unseasonal rainfall and urged the ADB to support localized water-management infrastructure, including small dams, reservoirs and retention ponds, particularly in areas where large volumes of rainwater were being drained away.

He said stored rainwater could help protect cities, support agriculture and strengthen water security, while also pointing to the challenge of sudden transboundary water inflows.

On environmental conservation, Iqbal requested ADB technical expertise for developing a sustainable tourism management framework for Gilgit-Baltistan to safeguard its fragile ecosystems amid rising visitor numbers.

Yingming Yang reaffirmed the ADB’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development priorities under URAAN Pakistan, including institution building, climate resilience and long-term sustainable growth.

The ADB Vice President also invited Iqbal to lead Pakistan’s national delegation to the 25th CAREC Ministerial Conference, scheduled for September 29-30, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The minister accepted the invitation.

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