Iqbal urges Sialkot to aim for $1b exports

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal urged exporters in Sialkot to set bolder goals, adopt new technology and shift from cheap mass production toward premium, internationally recognised brands. Speaking at the inaugural networking reception of the German-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), held jointly with the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA), he described foreign exchange earners as national heroes.

Iqbal said Pakistan has a substantial opening to build a partnership with Germany that complements both sides across engineering, technology, manufacturing and technical training. He proposed incentives for any company that becomes Pakistan's first to reach billion-dollar exports, and suggested that Germany's vocational training system could assist in creating a trained labour force in Pakistan.

GPCCI and PRGMEA signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at widening apparel trade between the two countries. German Ambassador Ina Lepel, who also serves as GPCCI Patron-in-Chief, stressed in a pre-recorded video that GSP+ remains important for bilateral economic ties and voiced hope of visiting Sialkot soon. Former commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan called Germany Pakistan's largest and most significant trading partner within the EU, and urged trade bodies to help small exporters reach European markets. He also congratulated Forward Sports, a Sialkot manufacturer, for making footballs for the FIFA World Cup 2026.