Pakistan, Feb. 22 -- In a bold declaration reverberating throughout economic circles, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced a plan to double Pakistan's exports within the next three to five years, strategically targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. While these lofty aspirations are commendable, they will yield little without concrete actionable steps, rigorous planning, and a deep understanding of the pressing realities facing our economy.

At the forefront of these challenges is the persistent escalation of the trade deficit. Recent reports show that with imports crossing $5 billion, the trade deficit widened by 35 percent in December 2024. Although the textile industry remains a cornerstone of our economy-acc...