Pakistan on Path to Economic Stability, Claims Ahsan

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination claimed that the country's economy has moved towards stability during the first eight months of fiscal year 2025-26 due to the coordinated macroeconomic policies of the government.

He made these remarks during his address at a ceremony on Saturday, held to mark the launch of the Monthly Development Report.

Planning Minister stated that to ensure price stability, regular meetings of the National Price Monitoring Committee ensured a steady supply of essential commodities across the country. He said the prices of several essential food items, including eggs, chicken and potatoes declined significantly.

Ahsan Iqbal noted that the Large-Scale Manufacturing sector exhibited a sustained and broad-based recovery during 2025-26, recording a four point eight increase on an annual basis.

He further stated that fourteen out of twenty-two sectors, including automobiles, non-metallic mineral products, beverages, wearing apparel, food, textiles, and tobacco, recorded positive growth. He noted tax collections reached eight point one trillion rupees From July to February 2025-26, compared to seven point three trillion rupees during the same period last year.

The Minister said remittances increased by eleven point three percent rising from 20.9 billion dollars to 23.2 billion dollars from July to January 2026. He further said it reflects the growing confidence of overseas Pakistanis in the government's economic policies and stability. Discussing the external sector, the Minister said exports of goods and services reached 24 billion dollars during Jul-Jan FY2025-26, while imports increased to 44.4 billion dollars.

He explained that the rise in imports was driven by stronger demand for intermediate and capital goods, along with import tariff rationalization aimed at reducing trade distortions and enhancing competitiveness. On the planning side, the Central Development Working Party approved four projects and recommended five projects to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, demonstrating the government's commitment to accelerating key development initiatives.

Sharing updates on international engagements, the Minister stated that following the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration of February 4, 2026, work has been initiated on a Five-Year Roadmap to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. Ahsan Iqbal urged every Pakistani to play their role in supporting economic stability so that the nation can successfully overcome global economic challenges and emerge stronger from the current crisis.