LAHORE: Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has revealed that the prime minister has asked all cabinet members to engage with the business community and provide every possible support to help reverse the decline in exports.
Hussain made these remarks while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Friday. He said that high production costs, expensive energy and a complex tax system are posing major challenges for exporters.
The minister added that the prime minister has established sector-specific working groups, led by representatives from the business community, to ensure that policymaking reflects real ground realities.
Speaking at the event, LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol warned that if the current decline in exports continues, it will become impossible to maintain the rupee’s artificial stability.
He added that Pakistan’s population is increasing by around 4.7 million per year, while agricultural production and food supply are not keeping pace, creating serious future risks.Hussain said the government’s objective is to promote an export-oriented economy to reduce the current account deficit. He noted that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have reached $21 billion, describing it as a positive development. He added that while microeconomic factors, including remittances, provide temporary relief, the long-term solution lies in boosting exports. “National security is not possible without food security,” he emphasised.
