Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif envisions a self-reliant Pakistan driven by export-led growth, with the ambitious goal of surpassing $100 billion in annual exports by 2033. Currently, Pakistan’s worldwide exports stand at around $36 billion and are steadily rising. The country’s main export destinations include the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. However, exports to other regions, such as Africa, South and Latin America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, remain significantly below potential, largely due to a longstanding lack of strategic focus on these markets.
With 54 countries — more than any other continent — Africa is an emerging economic powerhouse, with a population exceeding 1.6 billion and a collective GDP of over $3.5 trillion. This represents a vast and expanding consumer market, marked by rising purchasing power and rapidly developing infrastructure across the continent. The era of civil wars is almost over in most African countries, allowing a stronger focus on infrastructure and economic growth. With the continent’s economy growing at one of the fastest rates in the world, it is projected to expand tenfold to over $35 trillion within the next two decades. Overlooking the African market under these circumstances amounts to gross negligence, an oversight that must be corrected.
Almost all African countries were colonies of European countries during the 19th and 20th centuries, resulting in strong economic ties with their former colonial rulers. In the 21st century, alongside Europe and the United States, four additional countries — China, Russia, India, and Turkey — have strengthened their presence in Africa, emerging as key trading and economic partners while also expanding their political influence across the continent.
Unfortunately, Pakistan has lagged behind in developing strong economic ties with African countries, primarily due to a lack of strategic focus. Over the past few years, Pakistan’s total exports to Africa’s 54 nations have ranged from $1.5 to $1.8 billion annually, a figure that must be significantly increased. In comparison, Africa’s bilateral trade volume stands at over $265 billion with China, around $100 billion with India, and nearly $70 billion with Turkey, highlighting the vast potential Pakistan has yet to tap into.
Africa today represents one of the largest untapped export destinations for Pakistan, with a rapidly growing rate of urbanisation and increasing consumer demand.
Major challenges faced by Pakistani exporters include high transport and logistics costs, an unfavourable business environment, corrupt practices and, most critically, limited access to trade finance. Transport and logistics expenses remain high due to elevated shipping and insurance costs. It is essential that Pakistani goods are shipped on a ‘free-on-board’ (FOB) basis rather than an ‘on-delivery’ basis to reduce risks and costs. Additionally, it is imperative that the Government of Pakistan actively negotiates duty-free tariff agreements with a greater number of African countries to enhance market access and competitiveness.
Pakistan must develop a clear strategy to boost its exports to Africa, aiming for $10 billion by 2030 and $30 billion by 2050. Two of Africa’s strongest economies, Nigeria and Egypt, are members of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, of which Pakistan is also a key member. This shared platform presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic ties and mutually beneficial trade partnerships.
Africa is commonly divided into five regions — Northern, Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Of the 54 countries on the continent, Pakistan currently maintains embassies or high commissions in 20. These include five each in Northern Africa (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco) and Western Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger, and Nigeria), seven in Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, and Djibouti), and three in Southern Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius). Ironically, Pakistan does not have a diplomatic presence in any country in Central Africa, despite the region including significant economies such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, and Gabon. Establishing embassies in Angola and the DRC is urgently needed. Notably, the opening of five new embassies in Rwanda, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, and Uganda three years ago has already yielded tangible benefits, with exports to these countries having doubled.
While Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya are among Africa’s largest markets, Ethiopia holds the greatest political influence on the continent. As the headquarters of the African Union, Ethiopia enjoys direct diplomatic engagement with almost every African country. It is one of only four entities globally, alongside the United States, China, and the European Union, that maintains 160 or more embassies worldwide. Notably, Ethiopia is the only African country that operates direct flights to Pakistan, reflecting its strategic policy of direct connectivity with countries across the globe.
The African continent offers enormous export potential across a wide range of sectors, including textiles, yarn, garments, pharmaceuticals, light machinery, electrical equipment, household goods, agri-engineering, automobiles, cosmetics, leather products, footwear, plastic goods, agribusiness, livestock and dairy, defence production, sports goods, and surgical instruments. Pakistan’s recent success in defence innovation and production, particularly following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, has created new opportunities to export aircraft, weapons, and ammunition to markets across the world, particularly in Africa, where demand consistently exceeds supply.
In addition to the manufacturing sector, there is tremendous potential for Pakistan in the services sector, particularly in information technology, including software development, telecommunications, data services, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, banking and financial services, training, healthcare, engineering, institutional development, and even sports. This potential can be unlocked by offering more market-linked incentives tailored to African markets. Moreover, Pakistan’s extensive experience in agriculture and allied fields holds significant value. Many African countries are eager to develop their agriculture, livestock, and dairy sectors to bridge the growing gap between demand and supply, creating enormous opportunities for Pakistan to contribute expertise, technology, and services in these areas.
The morale of the Pakistani nation is at an all-time high following a glorious victory in the war against India. There is renewed confidence in the country’s leadership and its vision to make Pakistan a strong and respected nation. With a robust economy, Pakistan is well-positioned to play a significant role both regionally and globally, and it is already progressing toward economic strength and emerging as a major regional power. However, to fully realise these ambitions, three key policy measures are essential: expanding the volume of trade, providing sustained government support to the private sector, and diversifying economic engagements across sectors and regions.
Pakistan’s recent success in defence innovation and production, particularly following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, has created new opportunities to export aircraft, weapons, and ammunition to markets across the world, particularly in Africa, where demand consistently exceeds supply.
Africa today represents one of the largest untapped export destinations for Pakistan, with a rapidly growing rate of urbanisation and increasing consumer demand. It is high time we take coordinated and sustained action, through effective government policy-making alongside greater incentives and facilitation for the private sector. By enhancing our global competitiveness through robust policy reforms such as improving the ease of doing business, advancing digital initiatives, forging strategic trade agreements, and strengthening both manufacturing and services ecosystems, we can move confidently toward our export targets. Vibrant public-private partnerships will be key to unlocking Pakistan’s full potential in African markets.
The writer has a diverse career as a medical doctor, writer, and businessman across multiple countries, with a special interest in research and narrative building.
