LAHORE, Jan. 13 -- Mr. S. M. Tanveer, Leader of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), has expressed concerns over reliance on remittances and debt-driven consumption, and not exports, for economic growth and development.

He highlighted the challenges facing Pakistan's exports, citing an estimated $60 billion gap in potential exports.

In a statement, Mr. Tanveer noted that Pakistan's export share in GDP has declined from 16% in the 1990s to 10.4% in 2024.

On the contrary, he said, Vietnam's export-to-GDP ratio is 95%. Bangladesh, a country we used to look down on is around 20%. Thailand's at 60%.

He identified high production costs, limited market access, low productivity, and inadequate infrastructure as ...