ISLAMABAD: In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Commerce has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to boost Pakistan’s non-textile exports, aiming to transform the Manufacturing and Mining Products (MMP) sector into a central engine of economic growth.
The initiative, reviewed during the recent Executive Committee meeting of the National Export Development Board (NEDB), sets an ambitious target to increase MMP exports from the current $4.2 billion to $8 billion by 2030, and to $20 billion by 2035.
The strategy comes at a time when textiles continue to dominate Pakistan’s export basket, accounting for over 56% of total exports, while the MMP sector contributes just 13%. Officials say this imbalance has left the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations and undermined long-term competitiveness.
The new roadmap identifies five priority industries, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, sports goods, marble and granite, and engineering products, where Pakistan is believed to have a strong comparative advantage.
Key plans include the establishment of certification and quality infrastructure, the introduction of a “National Pharma Vision 2030,” and the creation of a dedicated pharmaceutical export promotion body to help the sector achieve $3 billion in exports over the next five years.
Other proposed reforms include a tariff rationalization plan, productivity and technology upgradation programs, and targeted incentives to attract export-oriented foreign direct investment (FDI). The strategy also emphasizes dismantling rent-seeking practices, reducing energy and logistics costs, and addressing chronic delays in tax refunds and Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) payments.
Chairing the NEDB’s Executive Committee, the Minister for Commerce is leading discussions on how to implement these reforms, which draw inspiration from the successful export models of Vietnam, South Korea, and Turkey. Officials stressed that achieving the ambitious export targets will require inter-ministerial coordination, private sector engagement, and strong political commitment.
According to official documents, the Ministry of Commerce will serve as the NEDB’s secretariat, with the Prime Minister himself chairing the board. The committee will also review decisions made during the Prime Minister-led NEDB meeting in August and assess progress on the roadmap for enhancing MMP sector exports.
Analysts note that Pakistan has historically relied on import substitution and overprotection of domestic industries, resulting in low productivity and limited innovation.
“If implemented in letter and spirit, this strategy could finally break the $35 billion export ceiling and position Pakistan on a path toward diversified, innovation-driven growth,” said an industry expert.
The Ministry emphasized that these reforms aim not just at economic expansion but also at enhancing resilience, positioning Pakistan to withstand global shocks and integrate more deeply into international value chains.
