New york: Visiting Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has told Pakistani-Americans in New York that Pakistan has achieved critical macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation and boosting exports.
In a speech on Sunday, he highlighted the robust turnaround of Pakistan’s economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following periods of immense financial distress:
The minister said that the present government had successfully stabilized the macroeconomic framework, increasing development spending to historic levels, and stabilizing the currency. The meeting, arranged by Pakistan’s Consulate General, was attended by a large number of Pakistani community members, businessmen and students. Umar Sheikh, acting Consul general, moderated the event.
Also attending were: Former Defence Minister Khurran Dastgir and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh.
Ahsan Iqbal spoke of Pakistan’s armed forces’ gallant performance, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, during the four-day military conflict with India in May 2025, and also underscored Pakistan’s successful diplomatic mediation that established the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran leading to the cessation of hostilities.
Those achievements, he said, boosted Pakistan’s prestige in the international community, adding that they will remain a proud chapter in “our nation’s history.’
“Pakistan now has tailwinds,”, Ahsan Iqbal said. But , he warned that “we must not be complacent.
The minister said that having won the “Markas” in the military and diplomatic fields, the country must accomplish “Marka-i-Trarraqi” with determined hardwork to usher in prosperity.
n this regard, he said that the “URAAN Pakistan” initiative, an ambitious long-term plan to transform Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. The strategy outlines structural growth driven by the “5Es” framework.
The “5Es” framework, Ahsan Iqbal said, centers on:
— Expanding annual exports to $100 billion with a heavy focus on IT and agricultural modernization;
— Digitizing the economy and increasing tech-based entrepreneurship;
— Building climate resilience to protect infrastructure;
— Creating sustainable, affordable, and reliable power systems; and,
— Fostering inclusive growth and empowering youth.
In the past, Ahsan Iqbal said what truly ruined Pakistan’s trajectory is political instability and the inconsistency in policies. When governments change, successor regimes abandon previous projects on political grounds.
With great effort, he said, the present government has been able to promote a measure of stability. The time for political long marches and agitation is over. What Pakistan now needs is a march forward in the economic field.
“We must prioritize policy continuity to attract foreign investment and put the country on the road to prosperity.”
The minister urged the gathering to sink differences, strengthen unity and make their voice heard in this country.He urged them to avoid activities that tarnish the image of Pakistan, snd urged businessmen to invest in Pakistan.
Earlier, Khurram Dastgir in his remarks also said that Pakistan was moving forward. ” The country is on the upswing,” he said, noting that the breakthrough in US-Pakistan relations was something unforeseen before the May clash in South Asia.
Ambassador Rizwan Sheikh delivered an address of welcome.
