Pakistan Policy Dialogue 2026
Pakistan on path of recovery, sustainability and inclusive growth: Ahsan Iqbal, Musadik Malik
Leading economists of the country, heads of the corporate sector, members of the Cabinet and prominent bankers at the Pakistan Policy Dialogue 2026 gave a unanimous call for consistency in policies and stability for complete economic overhaul of the country. The dialogue titled “Correcting Course: Pakistan’s Economic Reset” at Serena Hotel called for an economic reset anchored in realism, reform discipline, and constructive collaboration.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar was Chief Guest on the occasion.
The dialogue that was jointly organized by the Policy Research and Advisory Council (PRAC) in collaboration with the Corporate Pakistan Group (CPG) and the Nutshell Group as Strategic Partner, with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) as Founding Partners served as a national platform for evidence-based policy discourse.
Dar while commending the organizers for holding a timely debate on a vital issue and for making efforts to set the country’s economic course in right direction viewed that resetting and correcting the economic course meant to strengthen the foundations of the economy itself.
“This requires responsible governance, consistent policies, and institutions that operate with continuity beyond political cycles. What is now required is a technology-enabled approach to governance that reforms public service delivery and ensures policy intent translates into measurable outcomes,” said Mr Ishaq Dar.
The dialogue turned out to be a significant milestone in reviewing the challenges and achievements made so far under the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and efforts by the CDF, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Among the prominent speakers and the guests on the occasion included Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Climate Change Senator Dr. Musadik Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, former Governor SBP, Dr. Ishrat Husain Chairman, PRAC, Muhammad Younus Dagha, ex-Minister for Investment, Chairman & Founder of Nutshell Group, Chairman & Founder of Corporate Pakistan Group (CPG) and President of the Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP): Muhammad Azfar Ahsan and President & Executive Editor of Pakistan Observer, Mr Gauhar Zahid Malik.
Highlighting the government’s achievements on the diplomatic front, the Deputy Prime Minister said “All diplomatic efforts are geared towards helping business boost exports and create mutual partnerships based on economic interests.”
The event convened senior policymakers, corporate leaders, and development experts to deliberate on pragmatic reform pathways, growth-oriented policy choices, digitization, and institutional strengthening at a critical juncture for Pakistan’s economy. Organized by The Dialogue was supported by Bank Alfalah and BankIslami, as Platinum and Gold Partners, respectively
Earlier, at the inaugural session ‘Resetting Pakistan’s Economic Direction,’ Prof. Ahsan Iqbal highlighted planning, productivity, and export competitiveness in Pakistan’s economic recovery, noting that a durable reset must balance short-term stabilization with long-term development objectives. He observed, “Compared to 1947, Pakistan has progressed, but globally it still lags behind peers.
A future-forward approach is needed rather than exploiting past conflicts for media mileage, he said adding the developed countries stand on universal primary enrollment, robust health markers, at least 90% literacy, political stability, and sectoral development; Pakistan lags on all fronts.”
Finance Minister Senator Aurangzeb outlined the government reform priorities and the focus on macroeconomic stability. He said, “Our focus is on existential challenges: achieving sustainable growth for a USD 3 trillion economy requires addressing rapid population growth and climate risks, including floods that heavily impact GDP. At the same time, emerging sectors like crypto and blockchain, driven by youth and freelancers, need formalization and regulation, with the government providing an enabling ecosystem.”
Musadik Malik highlighted the need for equitable resource distribution, particularly for women and fresh graduates, stating, “Until you democratize capital and empower new entrants, nothing will change.”
Earlier in his welcome address, PM’s Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali stressed the essence of privatization and the government’s need to focus on areas best left to private enterprise, saying, “Four major weaknesses have challenged us: stretched public resources, informal economic activity, idle or speculative capital, and lack of inclusion.”
Azfar Ahsan calling for quick action and implementation of reforms, said that a meaningful economic reset required collaboration between the state and private sector, guided by evidence-based policy and long-term vision.
The overwhelming participation by the economists and leaders from various sectors demonstrate the urgency of the reviewing our goals and revitalizing the commitment to make Pakistan a greater nation, he said.
Pakistan’s growth trajectory can only be corrected through structural reforms, investment in human capital, and a governance framework that translates policy into measurable results, said Mr Azfar Ahsan.
