Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has stressed the need for value addition and export expansion to achieve economic self-reliance, saying the government was prioritizing export-led growth under Uraan Pakistan, during his visit to the Pakistan Pavilion at Gulfood 2026.
\n\u201cWe are committed to promoting productivity, quality and innovation so that \u2018Made in Pakistan\u2019 becomes a global symbol of quality and our products are visible on every shelf across international markets,\u201d the minister said while interacting with Pakistani exhibitors.
\nThe minister toured various stalls at the Pakistan Pavilion and met exporters representing different food and agro-based sectors.
\nHe encouraged them to focus on enhancing exports, improving product standards and increasing value-added offerings to compete effectively in international markets.
\nExpressing satisfaction over Pakistan\u2019s strong participation, Ahsan Iqbal appreciated the efforts of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the country\u2019s mission in Dubai for organizing a vibrant and well-represented pavilion at the global food exhibition.
\n\u201cI am very happy to see that Pakistani exporters have set up a large number of stalls at the Gulfood Expo,\u201d he said, adding that such international platforms created vital opportunities for market access, branding and business partnerships.
\nHighlighting the government\u2019s policy direction, the minister said that under Uraan Pakistan, increasing exports was the foremost national priority to steer the economy towards sustainable growth and reduce dependence on external borrowing.
\n\u201cIf we are to permanently free ourselves from reliance on the IMF and foreign debt, there is only one way forward \u2013 promoting and expanding our exports,\u201d he remarked, noting with encouragement that many Pakistani companies were shifting towards value-added products.
\nDuring the visit, the minister also visited the Biryani Festival stall established by TDAP and appreciated the initiative to promote Pakistani basmati rice and cuisine as part of soft branding and agri-exports promotion.
\nTDAP Director General (Agro Division) Athar Hussain Khokhar and Trade & Investment Counsellor Ali Zeb Khan briefed the minister on the Pakistan Pavilion\u2019s arrangements and participation details.
\nThe event was also attended by Pakistan Business Council Dubai Chairman Shabbir Merchant and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Faisal Jehangir Malik, along with members of the business community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has stressed the need for value addition and export expansion to achieve economic self-reliance, saying the government was prioritizing export-led growth under Uraan Pakistan, during his visit to the Pakistan Pavilion at Gulfood 2026. \u201cWe are committed to promoting productivity, quality and innovation so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":528559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-528549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n