Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan Unveils Reform Agenda to Strengthen Chemical Sector and Diversify Exports

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan chaired a comprehensive meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association on Wednesday to assess challenges confronting the chemical industry and to deliberate structural reforms aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s industrial capacity and export performance.
During the session, the minister observed that the country’s economic constraints stem not only from policy gaps but also from weaknesses in governance and implementation. He emphasized that improvements in customs procedures, regulatory enforcement, quality standards, and institutional coordination are essential to ensure that government incentives and trade concessions translate into tangible economic growth. He described internal institutional reform as a prerequisite for sustainable trade expansion.
Jam Kamal Khan underscored the need to institutionalize sector-specific planning through structured secretariats operating under sectoral councils with clearly defined mandates, ownership, and time-bound deliverables. He stressed that such councils must evolve into effective long-term planning platforms aligned with national development priorities.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to export diversification, the minister noted that while textiles remain a major contributor, sectors including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, surgical goods, food processing, and value-added manufacturing must be strengthened to enhance economic resilience. He added that trade negotiations should increasingly focus on countries importing substantial volumes from Pakistan, seeking preferential market access for selected domestic products to improve the trade balance.
On export facilitation, he supported impact-based evaluations to promote transparency, prevent misuse of incentives, and ensure benefits reach genuine exporters. He called for detailed assessments of existing schemes to measure export gains, fiscal implications, and sector-level outcomes before introducing policy adjustments.
Representatives of the association highlighted concerns including rising energy costs, limited financing access, tariff imbalances, and regulatory inefficiencies. They pointed out that certain raw materials are imported at minimal duty without corresponding growth in downstream exports, constraining domestic value addition. The delegation also urged stronger enforcement of quality standards and intellectual property protections to curb counterfeit products, enhance investor confidence, and attract foreign collaboration.
Concluding the meeting, the commerce minister assured participants that their recommendations would be reviewed within ongoing policy deliberations and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustained engagement with industry stakeholders to promote a transparent, research-driven, and growth-oriented industrial strategy.