Islamabad, January 14(Kamran Raja): Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Wednesday called for a fundamental shift in Pakistan’s economic model, stating that sustainable prosperity can only be achieved through higher productivity, an exports-led growth strategy, and a stronger role for the private sector. Addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan Policy Dialogue titled “Correcting Course: Pakistan’s Economic Reset” in Islamabad, the minister said the state must transition from direct economic management to becoming a facilitator of economic activity. “The only path to prosperity passes through increased productivity,” Dr Malik said, emphasizing that the private sector must play a central role in driving economic growth, while the government focuses on creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment. He stressed that sustainable and environment-friendly economic growth has become an urgent national necessity, noting that economic recovery can no longer depend solely on assets and power, but must be built on education, skills development, and productivity enhancement.
The minister stated that privatisation is not an ideological objective, but a practical mechanism to correct market distortions and improve efficiency. He added that an export-oriented growth model is the only viable path to ensure long-term economic stability and resilience. Dr Malik noted that the government’s reform measures are beginning to reflect positively in key economic indicators, but underlined that lasting prosperity will depend on enabling talent and capability to progress through improved governance, systems, and access to opportunities. He further remarked that Pakistan’s future prosperity is increasingly linked not only to capital and resources, but also to institutional reforms and effective economic management. The Pakistan Policy Dialogue, organised by the Policy Research and Advisory Council, brought together senior government officials, economists, and policy experts to deliberate on reforms aimed at correcting Pakistan’s economic trajectory and laying the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth.