Karachi: Pakistan is experiencing a resurgence in industrial activity and stock market performance, yet these gains are threatened by high energy costs affecting export volumes, according to Mian Zahid Hussain, President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum. Hussain, who also holds leadership roles in various business alliances, expressed concern that while the Pakistan Stock Exchange has shown a strong recovery, the sustainability of this growth is at risk due to the country's uncompetitive energy tariffs.

According to Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, the KSE-100 index has significantly rebounded, regaining over 1,500 points, reflecting investor confidence in recent government stabilization measures. Large-Scale Manufacturing has also seen a notable growth of 5.02 percent in the fiscal year's first trimester, with the automobile sector emerging as a highlight due to a 56 percent rise in car production and an 89 percent increase in truck and bus production.

Despite these promising developments, Hussain raised alarms over the impact of soaring energy costs on exports. He noted that while textile exports hit $17.85 billion in 2025, the sector's physical export volumes remain stagnant. The high energy tariffs, reaching nearly 12 cents per unit for Pakistani exporters, contrast sharply with the 5-9 cents in countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, leading to a significant 20.4 percent decline in merchandise exports in December.

Hussain called on the government to adopt the "Uraan Pakistan" roadmap, advocating for a revision of energy tariffs and the elimination of cross-subsidies in industrial power bills. He emphasized that achieving the $60 billion export target is unattainable without addressing these energy cost issues, urging a shift in government focus from stabilization to enhancing competitiveness.