Ahsan’s development vision

MINISTER for Planning Ahsan Iqbal is one of the few members of federal cabinet whose grasp of governance, development planning and long-term economic strategy commands broad recognition. During previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) governments, he was the principal architect of several national development frameworks aimed at modernising infrastructure, improving connectivity and laying the foundations for sustained economic growth. It is another matter that these plans could not be implemented in their true spirit because political instability interrupted policy continuity. His latest vision, Uraan Pakistan, again presents a roadmap for transforming the country’s economic landscape. However, like previous reform agendas, its success will ultimately depend on political stability and continuity of policies. Speaking at the launch of the Planning Ministry’s monthly development report, Ahsan Iqbal painted a cautiously optimistic picture of Pakistan’s economy. According to him, the economy has remained on the path of stability despite floods, regional conflicts and global economic uncertainties. The reported 3.7 percent growth rate, recovery in large-scale manufacturing, improved agricultural performance, rising remittances, stronger services exports and enhanced tax collection indicate that macroeconomic fundamentals have shown resilience after a prolonged period of turbulence. While inflationary pressures remain a concern, the government’s emphasis on maintaining fiscal discipline and protecting economic stability deserves acknowledgement. He also highlighted allocations made for the development for the year 2026-27. Among all development priorities, however, the construction of water reservoirs deserves the highest national attention. Pakistan today faces an increasingly complex water security challenge arising from climate change, erratic weather patterns, growing domestic demand and India’s continued attempts to weaponise water by undermining Pakistan’s leg