Pakistan needs export-led growth strategy to unlock trade potential: PFC CEO

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2026) Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq said on Sunday that incentives alone would not be sufficient to boost Pakistan’s exports unless deeper structural constraints were addressed and consistent economic policies were pursued without interruption.

Chairing a meeting of the PFC board of Directors here, he said that with pragmatic reforms, improved ease of doing business and close public-private sector collaboration, Pakistan could substantially increase its exports, strengthen economic stability and generate significant employment opportunities.

He urged the government to adopt a comprehensive export-led growth strategy focused on value addition, technological modernization, product diversification and skill development.

Mian Kashif said special attention should be given to promoting the furniture industry, which has immense potential to earn valuable foreign exchange due to its skilled craftsmanship and growing demand in international markets.

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He emphasized that long-term policy consistency was vital for restoring investors’ confidence and enabling exporters to make sustainable business and investment decisions, adding that frequent policy changes discouraged industrial expansion and weakened export performance.

He observed that despite Pakistan’s immense export potential, businesses continued to face multiple challenges, including high production costs, expensive energy, limited access to finance, cumbersome taxation, inadequate infrastructure and regulatory bottlenecks.

Removing these barriers, he said, was essential to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani products in global markets and place the country’s exports on a sustainable growth trajectory.