Pakistan's economic planners are pressing the automotive industry to abandon its inward-looking posture and embrace global markets as a primary revenue source. A high-level policy dialogue convened at the Planning Ministry brought together federal ministers, industry leaders, and development partners to map out a path toward this transformation. Main Developments Federal Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan jointly chaired Wednesday's session. The dialogue, titled "Unlocking Pakistan's High-Value Export Potential: Threats and Opportunities for the Automotive Industry," was part of a consultative series organized by the Planning Commission. Read also: WAPDA Releases Rs972.5m for Diamer-Basha Local Projects Minister Iqbal framed export-led growth as the cornerstone of URAAN Pakistan, the national initiative targeting USD 63 billion in exports. He described exports as a national priority rather than merely an economic objective, asserting that the country can no longer sustain its focus on domestic consumption alone. The minister called for a fundamental reorientation of industrial policy, investment strategy, and infrastructure development toward global competitiveness. He pointed to existing industrial clusters as assets that require modernization, better productivity, and technological upgrades to succeed internationally. Background Pakistan's automotive sector has historically served a domestic market protected by tariffs and import restrictions. The government now views this industry as a key player in achieving a broader export target of USD 100 billion, a goal Iqbal described as a matter of national importance. The new Auto Policy 2.0, being developed under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership, is expected to shift the sector's orientation. The minister expressed confidence that this policy framework would facilitate the industry's integration into global supply chains. Officials acknowledged that Pakistan's economic fragility stems from chronic foreign exchange shortages and reliance on borrowing. The dialogue's participants examined competitiveness, investment, productivity, technology, infrastructure, market access, and policy facilitation as areas needing urgent attention. Why It Matters Pakistan's economic sovereignty depends on sustainable foreign exchange earnings, which Iqbal said can only come from a stronger and more diversified export base. The automotive sector represents a significant opportunity because it already possesses productive capacity that could be redirected toward global markets. The minister warned that relying on borrowing and short-term measures cannot build lasting economic strength. He urged the private sector to take the lead in driving the export agenda, emphasizing that exporters, manufacturers, and investors must make international markets central to their business strategies. Chambers of commerce across the country were called upon to encourage export missions and develop sector-specific strategies. Iqbal stressed that both government and industry must collaborate to identify new opportunities, remove bottlenecks, and establish clear priorities for export-oriented growth. What's Next Industry stakeholders have been asked to formulate five-year export plans detailing each sector's potential contribution and the government support required. These plans would clarify how much each industry segment can add to Pakistan's export earnings. The minister also called for a comprehensive district-level export development plan covering all regions, with special attention to areas where existing industrial capacities could become globally competitive clusters. He insisted that the time for discussion has passed and that concrete action must follow. Additional policy dialogues are expected as part of the Planning Commission's consultative series on high-value export sectors. The effectiveness of Auto Policy 2.0 in translating these ambitions into measurable export growth remains an open question.