Industrial growth: Pakistan, UNIDO agree to explore new avenues

Business Recorder reported that Pakistan and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have agreed to look for fresh routes to boost industrial growth, encourage green energy and deepen technology ties. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, met a UNIDO delegation in Islamabad on Monday. The talks touched on factory expansion, global partnerships, the climate, power and efficiency gains.

The adviser described the government's goal as a strong, export-driven industrial economy built on sustainable industrialisation, technology and self-reliance. He said the first National Industrial Policy has been drafted to set direction for growth and productivity, and that the trade gap calls for growth driven by exports, backed by replacing imports and boosting home-made goods. He also said climate change was hurting farm output and factory production, and called for sustainable energy and climate-resilient industry.

On energy, the adviser said the New Energy Vehicle Policy is already in place and that work is under way to speed up electric vehicle uptake and charging networks. He also pointed to a proposed Battery Energy Storage System Policy intended to support local battery manufacturing. The UNIDO delegation named solar power as a promising area for collaboration and expressed interest in practical projects on technology transfer and productivity.