Pakistan shows economic resilience amid global challenges: Shehzad
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Finance Minister, Khurram Shehzad, said on Sunday that Pakistan was demonstrating strong economic resilience, improving macroeconomic fundamentals, and emerging as a credible player in diplomacy, trade, and investment despite ongoing regional instability and war-related uncertainties.
In a post on social media platform X, he highlighted that Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic bridge in global conflicts by engaging the United States, Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to help de-escalate tensions.
He noted that the Pakistan–International Monetary Fund review has been successful, with the programme remaining on track and reforms delivering positive results. Foreign exchange reserves have risen for 33 consecutive weeks, reaching around $21.7 billion, a four-year high, reflecting strengthening external buffers.
Khurram further stated that Pakistan had expanded shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz, supporting regional stability, while fuel security buffers have improved from 3.5 weeks toward four weeks despite global disruptions.
He said, Pakistan is reasserting itself as a gateway to Asian trade corridors, with ports and connectivity capturing shifting global trade flows, adding that the country has recorded a strong current account surplus, the highest in a year.
Highlighting industrial growth, he said the large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector grew by 12.1 percent month-on-month and 10.5 percent year-on-year, with 7 month growth during 2025-26 at 5.8 percent, led by automobiles, cement, garments, and petroleum sectors.
He also mentioned that a landmark 5G auction has taken place, attracting over $500 million in investment, reflecting strong investor confidence and progress in digital transformation.
The advisor said major global and existing investors have committed multi-billion dollar investments, including VEON, Raqami/KIA, Nestlé, SOCAR, and others, along with new entrants such as Google, BYD, Aramco, AD Ports, and Mashreq Bank.
He added that remittances and IT-tech exports continue to perform strongly, with remittances rising 11 percent year-on-year to $26.5 billion in 8 months, expected to exceed $41 billion in FY26, while IT exports grew 20 percent to $3 billion and are projected to cross $4 billion.
Citing an Ipsos survey, he said public confidence in the country’s direction has improved significantly, with the “right direction” perception increasing from 12 percent to 40 percent.
He said, Pakistan’s economic indicators, diplomatic engagement, and investor confidence reflect a positive trajectory despite external challenges. APP
