Pakistan is finalising a new industrial policy in 2026 aimed squarely at one goal: export-led growth. For importers, exporters, and manufacturers who move cargo through Karachi Port and Port Qasim, this isn't background political news — it directly touches tariff structures, financing access, and the trade corridors likely to see the most investment over the next few years. At Falcon Global Logistics, we break down what's actually in this policy and what it means for your shipments.
What the New Industrial Policy Is Trying to Do
The policy's core objective is improving Pakistan's manufacturing competitiveness while making it structurally easier to export. Two threads run through nearly every element of the plan: regulatory simplification and tariff rationalization. In practice, that means fewer bureaucratic bottlenecks for manufacturers trying to source imported inputs, and a tariff structure being redesigned to stop penalizing export-oriented industries that rely on imported raw materials and machinery.
Pakistan's July 2026 export figures already show meaningful momentum — exports rose sharply year-on-year, an early signal that the broader push toward export-led growth is gaining traction ahead of the formal policy's full rollout. For context on how this pairs with the country's evolving customs environment, see our related post: Customs Clearance 2026: New Regulations for Pakistan Importers.
Where the Investment Focus Is: China, Türkiye, and Central Asia
The policy explicitly prioritizes attracting foreign direct investment from three regions:
- China — remains Pakistan's largest and most consistent source of industrial investment, spanning manufacturing, infrastructure, and increasingly, electric vehicle and battery production.
- Türkiye — bilateral trade targets have been set as high as $5 billion, with Turkish investment interest spanning textiles, real estate, and industrial sectors. An Islamabad Chamber of Commerce business delegation to Istanbul has already been organized to build on this momentum.
- Central Asian Republics — targeted for deepened industrial cooperation, an emerging corridor that pairs naturally with Pakistan's ambitions as a regional trade and transit hub.
For Pakistan-based importers and exporters, this matters because trade infrastructure — port capacity, customs digitization, road and rail links — tends to get prioritized investment precisely where governments are actively courting foreign capital. We're watching these three corridors closely for early signs of improved trade-lane infrastructure and are already seeing steady growth in China-linked freight volumes, which we cover in China to Pakistan Shipping Trends After New Trade Policies.
Sectors Named in the Policy
| Sector | What's Being Targeted |
|---|---|
| Automobiles & EVs | New automobile and electric vehicle policy frameworks |
| Renewable Energy | Increased investment incentives |
| Battery Manufacturing | New domestic production capacity |
| Electronics | Import-substitution and export capability development |
| Pharmaceuticals | Manufacturing competitiveness improvements |
| Textiles | Continued core export sector, named for Türkiye partnership |
| IT & Logistics | Named as focus sectors for the Istanbul business delegation |
Notably, logistics itself was explicitly named as a focus sector for the Türkiye business delegation — a signal that the government sees efficient freight and supply chain infrastructure as a competitiveness lever in its own right, not just a cost center.
What This Means for SMEs and Exporters Specifically
Beyond the macro investment targets, the policy includes direct support measures aimed at exporters and small-to-medium enterprises:
- Easier access to financing — reducing one of the most persistent obstacles smaller exporters face when scaling production for international orders.
- Export refinancing facilities — designed to improve working capital cycles for businesses waiting on payment from overseas buyers.
- Long-term financing schemes — aimed at capital-intensive manufacturing upgrades that improve export competitiveness over multiple years, not just a single order cycle.
- Tax incentives — structured to reward export-oriented production specifically, rather than blanket manufacturing relief.
Government officials have framed the policy as part of a broader push toward political and macroeconomic stability, with the private sector positioned as the primary driver of growth going forward — a framing that suggests these support measures are intended to be durable rather than a short-term stimulus.
What Falcon Global Logistics Recommends Right Now
- Review your HS code classifications ahead of any tariff rationalization taking effect, so you're not caught in a reclassification backlog.
- If you import machinery or raw materials for export production, ask your customs broker specifically whether your inputs qualify for any new duty relief under the emerging tariff structure.
- If you're exploring new markets in Türkiye or Central Asia, start the freight and customs due diligence now — trade lane infrastructure tends to improve fastest where government attention is focused, which creates a window of opportunity for early movers.
- Talk to your freight forwarder about financing-linked shipment terms if export refinancing facilities apply to your business — this can materially change how you structure payment terms with overseas buyers.
How a policy change applies depends on the commodity, classification, origin and destination. Before booking, confirm the current rule and any implementing notification with the relevant authority or a qualified customs professional. Our pages on import/export and clearing and forwarding explain the services available.
Conclusion: A Policy Worth Tracking Closely
Pakistan's new industrial policy is still being finalised, but the direction is clear: export-led growth, tariff rationalization, and targeted investment from China, Türkiye, and Central Asia. For any business moving cargo in or out of Pakistan, the practical value isn't in the political headlines — it's in getting ahead of the tariff and customs changes before they take effect, and positioning your supply chain to benefit from the trade lanes getting the most investment attention.
Do not treat a policy announcement as an effective customs requirement until the relevant notification and implementation details are confirmed. For shipment-specific questions, contact the authority, your customs broker or Falcon Global Logistics.
Update: the Prime Minister's export directive (September 2026)
This page now also covers our earlier post on the export-led growth push. On September 16, 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the federal government to put export expansion at the centre of economic strategy. The directive was a set of instructions rather than a single new policy:
- align exports with international quality standards
- add value by shipping more processed and branded goods
- diversify markets, including through trade arrangements with friendly countries
The Press Information Department's September 10 release on the export acceleration mission sets out the background. For exporters, the logistics side matters as much as the policy. Each priority sector has different freight needs: container type, temperature control, certification and transit time. Plan these early when entering a new market.
Sources and further reading
- Ministry of Commerce: policy and SRO repository
- Pakistan Press Information Department, Karachi Industrial Park framework update, September 17, 2026
- Pakistan Press Information Department, proposed industrial roadmap, August 7, 2026