The recent meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA) comes at a crucial moment for Pakistan’s industrial future. The proposal to institutionalize sectoral planning through structured secretariats under sect oral councils deserves serious attention. Embedding industrial planning within national policy architecture would not only improve coordination but also enhance accountability, a critical ingredient often missing in past reform efforts. When raw materials are imported at low or zero duty without corresponding downstream export growth, local value addition suffers. If governance gaps are addressed and sectoral planning is embedded within a transparent policy framework, Pakistan’s industrial base including its chemical sector can move from reactive survival to proactive growth.

Source: The Patriot February 19, 2026 22:48 UTC