Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan can become world's 6th-largest economy by 2050, revises Goldman Sachs forecast

Detailed summary

The prime minister also called for closer cooperation between the federal and provincial governments to provide investors with the necessary support. | World News

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said he expects the country to become the world’s sixth-largest economy before 2050, revising the timeline projected in an earlier Goldman Sachs assessment.

Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad on Friday, Sharif recalled that Goldman Sachs had forecast Pakistan could become the world’s sixth-largest economy by 2075. He said he wanted to bring that target forward, Dawn reported.

“I would like to make a small amendment here — instead of 2075, it will be earlier than 2050,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The prime minister also urged international investors to look beyond extracting and exporting raw minerals, calling for greater investment in processing, refining and manufacturing within Pakistan.

Sharif said Pakistan was working to make its mining sector more attractive to investors by simplifying procedures, reducing bureaucratic delays and ensuring transparency in the allocation of licences and contracts.

He said digitised records and the National Minerals Data Centre would allow investors to assess the country’s mineral resources before committing funds to projects.

The prime minister also called for closer cooperation between the federal and provincial governments to provide investors with the necessary support. He said ensuring the safety of workers, assets and supply routes remained the government’s responsibility.

Sharif invited investors to bring any projects facing bureaucratic hurdles directly to him, saying he would personally intervene to speed up the process.

“If any file gets stuck due to bureaucratic delays or cumbersome procedures, bring it straight to me. I will personally ensure that it moves at lightning speed.”

Opening of the article, excerpted from Hindustan Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.