Islamabad, November 24, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed federal authorities to implement swift and comprehensive reforms in the Export Development Fund (EDF) to accelerate Pakistan’s export growth and ensure efficient use of resources. The directives were issued on Monday while chairing a meeting of the Working Group on the Export Sector.
During the session, the prime minister emphasized that the EDF must operate strictly in line with international best practices. He ordered an immediate third-party audit of the fund to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective utilization of financial resources. Additionally, he directed that the Export Development Surcharge—previously imposed on exports—be abolished without delay to reduce the cost burden on exporters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that the EDF should be dedicated exclusively to initiatives that directly enhance the country’s export capacity. These include sector-specific research, development of skilled labor, training programs for exporters, and the establishment of modern infrastructure that complies with global standards. He made it clear that any misuse or irrelevant allocation of EDF resources would not be tolerated.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the role of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in promoting Pakistani products internationally. According to the prime minister, the federal government bears full responsibility for showcasing national goods abroad and providing maximum facilitation to exporters.
The sub-working group on export enhancement presented its set of recommendations after extensive consultations. The prime minister appreciated their efforts and directed all concerned ministries and departments to act promptly on feasible proposals.
The meeting was attended by several key cabinet members, including Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the SIFC chairman, and other senior government officials.