USD100bn export target ‘absolutely achievable’: Sindh CM
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday threw his weight behind the business community’s ambitious vision of taking Pakistan’s exports from around USD30 billion to $100 billion, declaring that the target was “absolutely achievable” provided the country harnessed Sindh’s enormous indigenous energy potential and implemented policies aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and making Pakistani products globally competitive.
Speaking as Chief Guest at the 79th Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony organized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), the chief minister said Pakistan had demonstrated its strength on the defence and diplomatic fronts, and “the next battle we have to win is on the economic front”.
He called for unity between the government and business community to achieve sustainable economic growth and strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global markets.
Murad Ali Shah specifically endorsed the Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG),ZubairMotiwala’s, proposal to increase exports to $100 billion, noting that Pakistan had the potential to achieve this target.
He pointed out that overseas Pakistanis were already sending around $40 billion in remittances, while the country’s export sector had the capacity to substantially increase its contribution if competitive policies and a conducive business environment were ensured.
The chief minister said Sindh could become Pakistan’s energy basket, possessing vast reserves of Thar coal as well as significant energy potential in solar, wind and indigenous gas.
He said that inexpensive electricity generated from indigenous resources could help reduce production costs, enhance industrial competitiveness and enable Pakistani exporters to compete more effectively in international markets.
He particularly stressed the importance of fully utilizing Thar coal to reduce energy costs, saying that Pakistan could not afford to undermine a resource capable of providing relatively inexpensive energy.
He also called for greater exploration and utilization of Sindh’s indigenous gas resources instead of excessive reliance on imported gas.
Murad Ali Shah urged the Karachi Chamber and the wider business community to strengthen their collective voice before the federal government for policies that would lower the cost of doing business and energy costs, describing these as essential prerequisites for boosting exports, investment and industrial activity.
The chief minister also appreciated KCCI’s continued cooperation with the Sindh government in dealing with the crises affecting the business community, particularly the Gul Plaza tragedy and earlier incidents at the Timber Market and Bolton Market, where traders had suffered enormous financial losses, and families had endured personal tragedies.
He assured the chamber that the Sindh government would also examine the concerns of Nasla Tower affectees, acknowledging that they had suffered serious hardship.
He said he would discuss the matter with members of his cabinet to explore possible solutions.
On the ongoing transporters’ strike, Murad Ali Shah said the matter was almost resolved, with only a few points remaining under discussion.
He directed the provincial Transport Department to make efforts to settle the remaining issues at the earliest so that the disruption facing transporters, industries and businesses could be brought to an end.
Earlier, the Chairman of the BMG, Zubair Motiwala, called for a fundamental shift in the way Independence Day was observed, saying that the occasion should not merely be marked by flag-hoisting and ceremonial activities but should also provide an opportunity for collective introspection and a renewed commitment to Pakistan’s economic progress.
He said the country’s economic shortcomings could not be attributed solely to successive governments, as the business community and other stakeholders also had to accept responsibility.
He said that Pakistan could take exports from USD30 billion to USD100 billion if the cost of doing business and manufacturing was brought at par with competing countries.
Motiwala proposed that the government undertake a comprehensive cost-comparison study of Pakistan and major competing economies, including India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, to identify the factors making Pakistani products less competitive internationally.
He also stressed the need to modernize agriculture to increase productivity and strengthen the country’s export base.
He urged the business community to ask not merely what Pakistan had given them but what they had given Pakistan, calling upon every citizen to contribute to the country according to his or her capacity.
The BMG chairman also appreciated the Sindh government’s cooperation on the Gul Plaza reconstruction process, informing the gathering that an initial meeting on demolition and reconstruction had been held, and that the KCCI had submitted relevant terms of reference.
KCCI President Rehan Hanif, while welcoming the chief minister, thanked him for regularly attending KCCI events and for his continued support to the business community.
He said Pakistan had achieved notable successes on the defence and diplomatic fronts in recent years and that the country must now focus on achieving economic self-reliance through collective efforts by the federal and provincial governments, bureaucracy and business community.
The KCCI president particularly appreciated the Sindh government’s extensive support to Gul Plaza affectees and requested the chief minister to consider further assistance for affected traders who were still awaiting reconstruction of their business premises and facing livelihood difficulties.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026