Reimagining rural growth

Pakistan’s economic and business landscape presents formidable challenges. The manufacturing sector, including large-scale industries and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), is struggling under the burden of high energy costs and excessive taxation. Meanwhile, the service sector is constrained by low per capita income and inadequate household disposable income. Amid these challenges, agriculture and information technology (IT) stand out as the most promising sectors for economic growth, employment generation, and export expansion. Unfortunately, the decline of manufacturing has triggered reverse rural-to-urban labour migration. Simultaneously, the rising mechanisation of major crops — especially in labour-intensive sowing and harvesting operations — is reducing seasonal employment opportunities for the rural workforce.