Sindh CM backs $100b export target

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has endorsed the business community's proposal to lift Pakistan's exports from roughly $30 billion to $100 billion, according to The Express Tribune. Speaking as chief guest at the 79th Independence Day flag-hoisting event organised by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, he described the goal as achievable. His condition was that the country use Sindh's large domestic energy resources and adopt policies that bring down the cost of doing business.

He argued that Pakistan had already shown its strength on defence and diplomatic fronts, and that economic progress is the next challenge. He urged the government and businesses to work together for sustainable growth and a stronger place in global markets. He also noted that Pakistanis abroad already transfer roughly $40 billion in remittances, and that exporters could expand their share if competitive policies were in place.

On energy, he said Sindh could become the country's energy basket, given its Thar coal reserves and potential in solar, wind and indigenous gas. He stressed that fully using Thar coal would help reduce energy costs, and called for more exploration of Sindh's gas instead of heavy dependence on imported supplies. He also urged KCCI and the wider business community to press federal authorities for policies that bring down operating expenses and energy costs.