Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the “Uraan Pakistan” program, a national economic transformation plan for 2024-29, in Islamabad. The event also marked the unveiling of the program’s logo and accompanying book. The ceremony was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
In his address, PM Shehbaz highlighted the challenges faced in the past nine months, praising the continuous efforts of both federal and provincial governments, as well as partners in prosperity, to achieve macroeconomic stability.
Commitment to Economic Growth
Shehbaz Sharif stated that this was just the beginning of a long journey that would require “sacrifice, blood, and sweat” to achieve economic growth and regain Pakistan’s rightful place among nations. He emphasized that the government had negotiated with the IMF to stabilize the economy, despite facing internal and external challenges.
The “Uraan Pakistan” Plan
PM Shehbaz outlined the five key pillars of the “Uraan Pakistan” plan:
- Exports
- e-Pakistan
- Equity and Empowerment
- Environment (including food and water security)
- Energy and Infrastructure
He stressed that export-led growth is vital for Pakistan’s economy, as earning dollars through exports is the only way forward. Shehbaz also called for expanding the digital economy, adopting artificial intelligence, and promoting political harmony to enhance privatization and address inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises.
Political Unity and Progress
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the importance of political unity to achieve sustainable progress. He mentioned the decline in Pakistan’s global economic ranking and reiterated that Pakistan could still join the G-20 with consistent efforts.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb outlined the economic plan’s key goals, including stimulating private investment, boosting exports, and optimizing public finances for long-term stability. He set specific targets such as achieving 6% GDP growth by 2028, generating one million jobs annually, attracting $10 billion in private investment each year, and reaching $60 billion in exports by the same year.
Both Shehbaz Sharif and Aurangzeb underscored the importance of executing the plan effectively to ensure its success.
