Pakistan’s ambition to become a trillion-dollar economy depends on the alignment of policy, capital, industry and institutions, Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said on Thursday, warning that fragmented efforts cannot deliver sustainable growth.
Read More: ‘Industrialization vital for sustainable growth‘
Speaking at the 8th Pakistan Leadership Conversation in Islamabad, the minister emphasised collective acceleration, export-led growth and investor-friendly reforms as the core drivers of long-term economic transformation. He said sustainable progress requires coordinated action across sectors rather than isolated policy measures.
Federal Minister for BOI Qaisar Ahmed Sheikh attended the Sustainable Tourism Forum & Expo 2026 in Karachi, highlighting Pakistan’s investment-ready opportunities in sustainable tourism, supported by policy reforms & climate-resilient growth.#InvestinPak #STF2026 #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/zvLybIWTWo
— Board of Investment, Pakistan (@investinpak) January 22, 2026
Drawing lessons from China’s development experience, Mr Sheikh noted that a strong focus on value-added production and exports had enabled China to emerge as one of the world’s leading exporters. He said Pakistan could follow a similar path by upgrading its production base, improving quality standards and moving up the global value chain.
The minister underlined the importance of future-ready and skilled human capital for sustainable development, stressing that productivity growth — rather than headline GDP figures alone — should guide economic policymaking. He highlighted technology adoption, enhanced managerial capacity and the formalisation of small and medium enterprises as essential for improving competitiveness.
Referring to digital transformation, Mr Sheikh said digital technologies, artificial intelligence and fintech offered Pakistan an opportunity to leapfrog economically. However, he cautioned that these tools must move beyond pilot initiatives and be adopted at scale to deliver meaningful impact.
He also pointed to improving market sentiment, saying rising investor confidence reflected in stock market performance indicated growing trust in the country’s economic direction. Reaffirming the prime minister’s vision, he said the government was pursuing reforms to improve the ease of doing business and ensure regulatory predictability.
Read More: Cashless economy initiatives to ensure sustainable growth: PM
Highlighting investment incentives, the minister said special economic zones offer a ten-year income tax exemption, while around 6,000 acres of land near Port Qasim are available for investment. He added that the Business Facilitation Centre is providing one-window services to domestic and foreign investors.