Ahsan Iqbal highlights JF-17 exports as sign of industrial growth

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said no country could achieve progress without political stability, stressing the need to ensure continuity in government policies related to development projects.

Addressing event titled Pakistan Policy Dialogue, the minister said sustained economic growth required collective effort, adding that Pakistan still needed to work hard to put its economy on a stronger footing. He also said Pakistan was exporting JF-17 fighter aircraft to different countries, calling it a sign of growing technological and industrial capacity.

Referring to recent economic challenges, Ahsan Iqbal said there had been speculation at one point about when Pakistan might default, but added that the government had taken steps to stabilise and strengthen the economy.

Youth urged to play role in national progress

Iqbal said the country’s youth must actively contribute to national development and prosperity, describing young people as a key driver of long-term growth.

CPEC ‘a transformative vision’

Highlighting the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the minister said CPEC was not merely a network of roads but a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming Pakistan’s economic future.

Commitment to peace and dialogue

The planning minister reiterated that Pakistan was a peaceful nuclear state and emphasised that conflicts could not be resolved through war. “Dialogue, not confrontation, is the way forward,” he said, underlining the need for negotiations to address regional and global challenges.