Pakistan's fragile economic stability hinges on accelerating export growth, business leaders warned at a high-level roundtable, urging sweeping reforms in taxation, energy pricing and interest rates to restore competitiveness and revive the national economy.

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) convened a 'Roundtable Conference on Identifying a Roadmap for Enhancing Exports' at its regional office, drawing industrialists, trade representatives and senior government officials.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh described export expansion as indispensable for economic recovery and stabilisation. Without a sustained rise in outward shipments, he argued, macroeconomic improvement would remain elusive.

He called for comprehensive tax reforms, lower electricity and energy tariffs, and a reduction in interest rates to single digits to improve export competitiveness. Such measures, he suggested, would strengthen manufacturing performance and reduce production costs.

The gathering was attended by Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum and Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul, while Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Aamir Muhyuddin joined the discussion virtually.

Mr Sheikh characterised the roundtable as an effort to foster constructive engagement between policymakers and the private sector. Closer coordination, he maintained, would be critical to promoting national exports and ensuring policy alignment.

FPCCI Vice President Zaki Aijaz echoed these concerns, pointing to elevated energy charges, heavy taxation and high borrowing costs as key obstacles to industrial expansion. He presented proposals centred on boosting overseas sales, lowering input expenses, stabilising power prices, restructuring the tax framework, improving trade facilitation and widening access to new international markets.

Participants emphasised that durable export growth depends on policy continuity, business-friendly measures and sustained consultation with industry stakeholders. Abrupt regulatory changes, they implied, would undermine investor confidence and hinder progress.

Federal secretaries present at the forum welcomed the recommendations advanced by the business community. They assured attendees that the proposals would be reviewed at relevant policy platforms for possible incorporation into future decision-making.

The discussion underscored a shared recognition: without decisive action to enhance export competitiveness, Pakistan's economic revival may remain constrained by structural inefficiencies and limited global market integration.