Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan must embrace China’s economic model and pursue structural reforms with consistency to become a strong regional economy by its 100th year of independence.
Addressing a panel discussion at the Leadership Conference organized by the Management Association of Pakistan, the minister emphasized that economic development should be the country’s foremost priority if it is to realize the long-standing vision of emerging as an Asian tiger.
Highlighting lessons from the past, Iqbal pointed out that the government has introduced several reforms despite limited resources, echoing the institutional measures taken by former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif during his first tenure. He cited the country’s nuclear program as proof of what sustained national commitment can achieve, saying, “If we show the same consistency in economic reforms, we can achieve remarkable progress.”
The minister also underlined Pakistan’s growing regional importance, noting its strengthened strategic position after the recent conflict with India, which he referred to as Maarka-e-Haq. “Pakistan’s strategic position is very strong, and we will maintain it,” he remarked.
Turning to the role of youth, Iqbal stressed that integrating young people into the mainstream, particularly in IT and emerging technologies, would be crucial to sustaining growth. “If we continue with reforms and empower our youth, no one will be able to stop Pakistan from moving forward,” he concluded.
The panel also featured Advisor to the Federal Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad, former minister Mushahid Hussain, and other prominent leaders.
