Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Thursday said Pakistan’s economy has shown steady improvement over the past three years, pointing to stronger macroeconomic indicators and enhanced engagement with the private sector.
Speaking after a meeting with the American Business Council (ABC) at its office, Jam Kamal said the economic situation today is significantly better compared to two-and-a-half to three years ago.
He noted that Pakistan is currently under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which required the government to adopt fiscal discipline and implement difficult but necessary reforms. “In the past, it was easier to rely on subsidies and cross-subsidies, but under the IMF framework, several programmes had to be restructured and properly implemented,” he said.
The Commerce Minister highlighted improvements across economic indicators: interest rates have fallen from 22.5 percent to 10.5 percent, inflation has dropped from 38 percent to single digits, foreign exchange reserves have increased three to four times, and the stock market is showing strong performance.
Jam Kamal emphasized the government’s collaborative approach, noting that all joint working groups are headed by private sector representatives and that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his team remain in constant contact with businesses.
ABC President Akram Wali Muhammad welcomed the Commerce Minister and described the meeting as productive. He said the business community is satisfied with the direction of Pakistan’s economy and noted that previous fears of a possible default have largely subsided, leaving the council optimistic about the country’s economic outlook.
