Warning that exports were the only durable path to economic stability, Prime Minister said Pakistan needed a joint push by the state and business to improve branding, packaging, market intelligence and access to global markets
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s exports reaching $2.7bn in the first month of the new fiscal year, describing the trend as encouraging for the wider economy.
Export promotion, he said, was essential for sustainable growth and required joint efforts by the government and the private sector, including better branding, improved packaging, market intelligence and greater access to global markets. He also described the recent rise in IT exports as a positive step.
According to official figures, exports increased by 17% between July 2024 and July 2025. A 9% rise in exports in a single month was termed particularly satisfactory. The prime minister said export-led growth remained the government’s top priority and claimed that the positive impact of current economic policies was beginning to emerge.
PM Shehbaz said key economic indicators were moving in the right direction and praised the performance of the government’s economic team. The government, he said, was working to promote exports, attract investment and provide a business-friendly environment. He pointed to the implementation of the faceless customs assessment system, saying it had improved port operations and facilitated trade.
Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed the increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio and described the recent improvement in Pakistan’s credit rating by international financial institutions as a sign of economic stability. He said remittances reached $34.9bn in the last fiscal year, an increase of 28.8% compared with 2023–24.
The prime minister reiterated his commitment to providing more facilities for overseas Pakistanis and expressed gratitude for the record remittances sent in December 2025. He said the 16.5% increase reflected overseas Pakistanis’ confidence in government policies and described their contribution as a powerful expression of national commitment.
PM Shehbaz also welcomed the historic performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, noting that the KSE-100 index had crossed the 145,000 mark. Investor confidence, he said, was returning, supported by improved economic indicators and policy continuity.
